Hilary Knight ties US Olympic goal record in 5-0 win over Finland team coming off stomach virus

MILAN (AP) — Every goal still feels special for Hilary Knight, no matter how many USA Hockey’s most decorated woman has scored in her record-setting career.

Saturday night was no different for the 36-year-old appearing in her U.S. women’s hockey-best fifth Olympics.

With U.S. Vice President JD Vance and family cheering along, Knight scored to tie the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey career goal mark, and the Americans wore down a Finland opponent that spent much of the week dealing with a stomach virus in a 5-0 win at the Milan Cortina Games.

“I just love scoring and just the pure elation of finding the back of the net,” Knight said. “It’s just a little kid moment that when you score it’s pure excitement and it’s fun to celebrate.”

The goal scored 9:17 into the second period that put the U.S. up 4-0 was Knight’s 14th to match the record shared by Natalie Darwitz and Katie King.

“Those are some legendary players, and just to be in the same sentence as them is super special,” said Knight, whose 29 career points in the Winter Games are only three back of matching Jenny Potter on the U.S. list.

Defender Megan Keller had a goal and two assists, while Alex Carpenter, Taylor Heise and Abbey Murphy also scored. Aerin Frankel stopped 11 shots for her first shutout in just her second career Olympic game.

The tournament favorite Americans (2-0) improved to 11-0 in Olympic meetings against Finland, and had just about everything going in their favor on Saturday.

The Finns returned to the ice as a full team for the first time since last being together at practice on Tuesday. That night, four players developed symptoms of a norovirus. Two days later, Finland’s 23-player roster was down to eight forwards and two goalies, prompting Olympic officials to postpone the team’s tournament opener against Canada to Feb. 12.

After canceling their morning skate on Saturday, the Finns took the ice six hours later with a full 22-player contingent.

“We know that the U.S. is a really good team. And we knew that it’s going to be a tough battle for us,” Jenni Hiirikoski said. “But I’m proud of how we were battling out there. And it’s something we will keep building.”

The Americans are tough to handle at any time, and it was a lot to ask the Finns to do so given their circumstances.

Finland came out with speed but showed signs of rustiness while struggling to handle the puck. Petra Nieminen had it slide off her stick on a potential break two minutes in. The Finns eventually wore down in managing nine shots through two periods and 11 overall.

Goalie Sanni Ahola stopped 44 shots overall, and kept the Finns in the game through a first period in which she stopped 14 of 15 shots. Carpenter was the only one that beat her with a one-timer from the slot for a power-play goal with 4:48 left in the period.

“I got a lot of shots, but I enjoyed every moment. I love getting a lot of shots,” Ahola said.

Heise was impressed by Finland's resolve.

“For a group that hasn’t really skated together for a few days, I’ll give them credit,” Heise said. “We knew that we had to outlast them.”

The Americans broke open the game with three goals in the second period.

Knight capped the run by being set up to the left of the net. She paused, then spun toward the net and banked a shot in off of Ahola’s blocker.

“She deserves all the success in the world, especially who she is off the ice,” Keller said, noting the entire team was aware of Knight’s milestone. “So we’ll be really excited when she gets that next one.”

Vance returned to the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena for a second time after he and his family also attended the Americans’ tournament-opening 5-1 win over Czechia on Thursday.

Vance sat with his youngest child, daughter Mirabel, on his lap. Usha Vance, wearing a sweatshirt with “USA” in big letters, clapped along to Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” before the second period started. The vice president and his wife stood and clapped when the U.S. scored a goal. They were back on their feet cheering a few minutes later when the Americans scored again.

Among his entourage were hockey’s twin sisters Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, members of the U.S. gold medal-winning team at the 2018 Winter Games. And the group was joined by influencer and boxer Jake Paul.

In other Group A play, Natalie Spooner, Sarah Fillier and Julia Gosling scored power-play goals, and Daryl Watts also scored in defending Olympic champion Canada's 4-0 win over Switzerland. Emerance Maschmeyer stopped six shots — including a one-timer from Alina Muller with 8:40 remaining — in Canada's tournament opener.

Swiss goalie Saskia Maurer finished with 51 saves in an outing Canada sealed with three third-period goals.

Switzerland also had a stomach flu scare following a 4-3 SO win over Czechia. The Swiss team skipped the opening ceremony, and spent Friday night in isolation after one player showed symptoms of the norovirus. The player was cleared on Saturday.

In earlier Group B play, Thea Johansson scored twice and added an assist, and Sweden improved to 2-0 with a 6-1 win over host Italy (1-1).

Also, Laura Kluge had a goal and three assists, Nicola Hadraschek scored twice and added an assist, and Germany (1-1) defeated Japan 5-2.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Vice President JD Vance attends a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' Taylor Heise, 2nd right, celebrates with teammates after scoring her sides second goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland's Sanni Ahola, right, makes a save against United States' Grace Zumwinkle during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' Hilary Knight celebrates with teammates after scoring her sides fourth goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' Hilary Knight, back, shoots to score past Finland's Sanni Ahola during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock visits a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Germany and Japan at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Germany's Emily Nix, left, scores her side's third goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Germany and Japan at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)

Japan's Rui Ukita, left, slides past Germany's Sandra Abstreiter during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Germany and Japan at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Germany's Sandra Abstreiter catches the puck during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Germany and Japan at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Germany's Laura Kluge, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring her sides fifth goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Germany and Japan at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

MILAN (AP) — Don't under-estimate Finnish resilience.

Difficult as the week was for Finland’s national women’s hockey team in dealing with a stomach virus that sent 13 of 23 players into quarantine, coach Tero Lehtera had a good feeling his players would show up ready for their first game at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

“Yeah, it was tough, but you know in the Finnish DNA, it’s kind of like there is some sort of a survival gene or something,” Lehtera said after a 5-0 tournament-opening loss to the United States on Saturday. “So, not that bad. We’ll manage.”

It was “game on” for Finland, as well as Switzerland, after both teams had to deal with a norovirus affecting its players.

Two days after Finland's game against Canada was postponed to Thursday, and four days after players began showing symptoms, Finland played with a full complement of 20 skaters and two goalies against the Americans.

Switzerland followed by also playing with a full roster in 4-0 loss to defending Olympic champion Canada. The Swiss played a day after revealing they had one player test positive for the norovirus.

For Finland, the challenge was steeper given the team had not held a full practice since Tuesday, and at one point was down to eight skaters and two goalies.

The rust showed, with the Finns managing only 11 shots on goal — and just two over the final period.

“They gave all they had today. But I’m a little bit disappointed the way we played,” Lehtera said. “I’m not saying they did a bad effort. So I’m not asking for more in that area. But what I’m asking is maybe take a little bit from that effort, and play a little smarter.”

Finland's players were disappointed with the loss even while acknowledging what they were up against.

“Oh, yeah, for sure, I knew,” said goalie Sanni Ahola, who stopped 44 shots, including 14 of 15 in the first period. “I enjoyed every moment. I love getting a lot of shots.”

The challenge going forward is regaining their stamina and playing their physical defensive style.

“We are definitely not happy with the result,” forward Emma Nuutinen said. "But we also know that this was a rough start for our Olympic journey.”

Finland is a four-time Olympic bronze-medal winner, and in contention to make the podium again this year. Under the tournament format, the Finns are guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals as members of the five-team Group A.

“It’s a long tournament, you need to stay focusing and focusing on what’s next,” defender Jenni Hiirikoski said. “I’m sure we will get the things that we want to prove.”

Despite two teams being affected by illness at the start of the Milan Cortina Games, Olympic organizers downplayed the significance of the virus cases.

“It is not (an outbreak). Let’s not start to make a point about what is currently five athletes being dealt with,” Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi said Saturday. “Proper protocols, really well done.”

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said IOC medical director Jane Thornton sees no reason to suspect the cases on the two teams are related.

The entire Swiss team spent Friday night in isolation and skipped the opening ceremony.

“The incubation period has now passed,” Switzerland’s chief medical officer, Hanspeter Betschart, said in a statement. “From a medical perspective, there are currently no concerns about the game taking place, provided no further players show symptoms.”

Germany goalie Sandra Abstreiter said players are very much aware of the virus and are taking precautions, including agreeing not to shake hands without gloves on following games. That was evident following Germany’s 5-2 win over Japan, when each team formed a line and saluted the crowd without opposing players interacting with each other.

“I think that’s the smart play as of right now. And then obviously we’re disinfecting a lot. We’re not sharing things,” Abstreiter said. “It’s obviously in our heads. But we just still have to focus on hockey obviously. And we just have to let our medical team take care of that.”

AP Sports Writers James Ellingworth and Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

United States' Abbey Murphy, right, checks Finland's Julia Schalin during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland's Sanni Ahola and Finland's Noora Tulus, right, make a save against United States' Grace Zumwinkle during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland's Sanni Ahola fails to make a save during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland players before a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)

Finland's Ronja Savolainen, right, challenges United States' Kelly Pannek during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Switzerland's Laura Zimmermann, center, celebrates after scoring her side's opening goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Switzerland and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

FILE - An outside view of the Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)