The US national team will play Canada in the final match of the Olympic men's ice hockey tournament in Milan. In the second semi-final of the program, the Americans won with a decisive 6:2 (2:0, 3:0, 1:2) over the Slovakian team, BTA reported.
Earlier, the Canadians qualified for the last match of the program after a difficult 3:2 victory over the reigning Olympic champion Finland.
The second match of the program in Milan remained far from the drama of the first, which was decided by a goal in the last minute of regular time. Here, the Americans forged a solid two-goal lead in the first period through accurate shots by Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson.
Finally, the intrigue was killed in the 13th minute of the second period, when the USA reached two new goals within 19 seconds through Jack Hughes and Jack Eichel.
Again, Hughes was accurate for 5:0 a minute before the end of the second period, and in the third, Slovakia opened its scoring account through Juraj Slafkovski, who took advantage of one of the few mistakes by American guard Connor Hellebuck.
A goal by Brady Tkaczuk in the middle of the period restored the five-goal lead of the world champions, but shortly after, Pavol Regenda reduced it to 2:6, completing a quick attack, and thus shaping the final score.
For the Americans, this will be their 11th appearance in an Olympic Games final, but their first since since 2010, when the team lost to Canada in Vancouver. They have two titles - in 1960 and 1980.
Slovakia, on the other hand, will be looking for a second consecutive bronze medal after the one from the Beijing Games in 2022.
The final between the USA and Canada will be on Sunday at 15:10 Bulgarian time, and will also be the last competition on the program of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. A day earlier at 21:40 is the match for third place between Slovakia and Finland.