Canada thumps Sweden at women's hockey worlds

Carla MacLeod scored a goal and added three assists as Canada took some revenge on Sweden at the women's world hockey championships on Monday.

Rebecca Johnston and Jennifer Botterill each added a goal and an assist for Canada in the 7-0 win in Pool B action before a crowd of 1,403 at Hameenlinna, Finland.

"We were revved up," said MacLeod. "This was a big game for us. We had it circled on our calendar."

Sweden beat Canada for the first time at the Four Nations Cup in November with a 3-2 overtime win, with the celebration taking place right in front of the Canadian bench.

The Canadian team is also looking to regain the world title after losing for just the second time in 11 years in China in 2008, falling to the United States in the gold-medal game.

Canada will now battle the defending champion Americans and Finland, which like Canada won its pool with 2-0 records, to see who makes it to Sunday's final at noon ET.

Kim St. Pierre got the call in net against the Swedes and finished with 18 saves.

Canada (2-0) scored goals in all facets of the game. Colleen Sostorics converted on the power play and captain Hayley Wickenheiser scored short-handed.

Team veteran Caroline Ouellette opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game, with teen Marie-Philip Poulin adding an even-strength goal.

Jayna Hefford set up two of the goals.

Defenceman MacLeod is now the somewhat unlikely leading scorer of the team, with two goals and five assists through two games.

The game was relatively close until Canada scored three goals early in the final period. Botterill's goal followed, with just 36 seconds left in the third.

Canada fired 39 shots on Swedish goalie Sara Grahn. Standout Swedish netminder Kim Martin is on the mend with a knee injury.

"We were hoping for better, but Canada is a big, big strong hockey club and when they got their confidence going after three-nothing, they all stepped up and became 10 per cent better hockey players," Swedish coach Peter Elander said.

Captain Hayley Wickenheiser of Shaunavon, Sask., scored short-handed for her third goal of the tournament and the 19-year-old Johnston, of Sudbury, Ont., also notched her third.

Montreal forward Caroline Ouellette and Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que., each contributed their second goal in as many games. Colleen Sostorics of Kennedy, Sask., chipped in a power-play goal and Winnipeg's Botterill also scored for Canada.

While the Canadians took their share of penalties, they shut down Sweden's power play on six chances, including a five-on-three at the end of the third period. Canada forced Sweden's shooters to the perimeter, working hard to get their sticks on the puck and break up possible one-timers off the pass.

The U.S. won its second consecutive 8-0 game on Monday, defeating Russia.

Canada will play the first game of the round-robin medal round on Wednesday against Finland, who were a 6-3 winner over Switzerland.

The Canadians will play the U.S. on Friday, with the bronze medal and gold medal games taking place two days later. Both games are scheduled for noon ET.

Canada has outscored its opposition 20-1, compared to 16-0 for the U.S. and 13-3 for Finland.