Let the rivalry resume.
Canada and the United States are set for a much-anticipated clash for Olympic gold in women's hockey after the North American powerhouses won semifinals on Monday at the Beijing Games.
Unbeaten Canada crushed Switzerland 10-3, while the Americans beat Finland 4-1 to set up the final on Wednesday at 11:10 p.m. ET.
The Americans beat Canada in a shootout in the final of the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, but the Canadians won in overtime in last year's World Championship final and beat the U.S. 4-2 in preliminary-round play in Beijing behind a 51-save performance from goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens.
Before the setback in 2018, Canada had won four Olympic gold medals in a row. The Americans have the other two Olympic golds -- the Games debut in 1998 and the Pyeongchang win.
Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice in the win over Switzerland.
With 54 goals in six games, Canada broke the record for goals scored in an Olympic tournament. The old record of 48 was set by Canada during the 2010 Vancouver Games.
All 13 Canadian forwards recorded at least a point as Canada outshot Switzerland 61-13.
Melodie Daoust made her return to the Olympic tournament. The star winger had been sitting out with an upper-body injury from Canada's first game.
Canada exploded early with five goals in the first period. The floodgates opened when Claire Thompson, Jamie Lee Rattray, Blayre Turnbull and Renata Fast all scored in the first 9:21 of play.
This forced Switzerland to make a goalie change, subbing out Andrea Braendli for 20-year-old Saskia Maurer. Erin Ambrose added a fifth Canadian goal before the Swiss broke the ice courtesy of captain Lara Stalder to close out the first period.
Ambrose finished with a goal and an assist while defence partner Thompson had a goal and two assists. The pair has now combined for 21 points.
“We all can move our feet and that is one of our biggest strengths as a defensive corps," Fast said. "As ‘D’ pairings, we really complement each other and, at the root of it, I honestly believe we’re having so much success because we’re all so easy going. We have so much fun when we play and support one another. Everyone goes out each shift and plays free and knows that the girls on the bench are supporting them.”
The second period saw five goals shared between both sides. Alina Mueller scored a second for the Swiss before Canada responded with goals from Emily Clarke and Poulin. Stalder added her second of the game.
Poulin rounded out the goal festival with a highlight-reel play to beat Maurer on a breakaway.
In the third period, Emma Maltais added her first goal of the tournament while Brianne Jenner bagged her ninth -- tying an Olympic record for women's hockey (Meghan Agosta and Stephanie Marty, 2010).
Canada's Sarah Nurse had four assists, giving her 12 helpers and 16 points for the tournament. That ties Hayley Wickenheiser for the all-time assist record and puts her one point back of Wickenheiser's scoring record from 2006.
The Americans had a tougher test, but still outshot the Finns 42-26.
Cayla Barnes, Hilary Knight, Abby Roque and Hayley Scamurra scored for the Americans.
