USA women’s hockey prepares for heavyweight battle with Team Canada

USA players watch as the Canadian flag is carried during the medal ceremony after Canada beat USA 2-0 to win the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010. Photo: AP Photo/Chris O’Meara

BEIJING — The Olympic stage is set for a heavyweight battle between women’s hockey goliath’s Team USA and Team Canada. In what will be the final preliminary match of the competition, these two bitter rivals will face off on Monday night in what will also more than likely be a preview of the Gold Medal game in the coming days.

The blood runs deep between these two border-sharing-nations as the two countries have been the only ones to win gold since the sport was added to the Olympics in 1998.

Most recently, USA defeated Canada in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics in a thrilling 3-2 shootout to claim their first gold since 1998. Since then, the two nations have continued to dominate the sport and are the clear favorites to battle for gold yet again.

Coming into the matchup, both teams are a perfect 3-0-0-0 and have collectively outscored the opposition 47-5 (USA – 18 goals, Canada – 29 goals) over the course of those contests.

As for team USA, their most recent outcome was an 8-0 domination over Switzerland with two goals apiece from Jesse Compher, Hilary Knight and Kelly Pannek. Notably, 12 U.S. skaters recorded a point as they outshot Switzerland 66-12 with five goals in the first period alone.

Meanwhile, Canada dominated the ROC 6-1 in their most recent matchup.

Puck drop is set for 11:10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the USA Network and Peacock.