Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice to lead Canada to a narrow 2-1 win over Switzerland in a closer-than-expected semifinal at the women's Olympic hockey tournament on Monday.
Canada will face the United States in Thursday's gold-medal contest for the fifth consecutive Olympics and the seventh time in eight tournaments since women's hockey was added to the Games in 1998. Canada has won five golds and is the reigning Olympic champion. However, the U.S. has gotten the better of Canada lately, winning seven straight over its North American rival, including a 5-0 thumping in the preliminary round.
Canada outshot Switzerland 46-8, but only Poulin - who broke the Olympic women's hockey all-time goals record with her first tally of the game - managed to beat Swiss netminder Andrea Brandli.
Daryl Watts assisted on each of Poulin's goals, which came within seven minutes of each other in the second period. Sophie Jaques and Ella Shelton also added helpers.
Rahel Enzler scored the lone goal for the Swiss.
Switzerland will play Sweden for bronze.
