Canada Puts Hurt on Sweden, 8-1

After a third straight blowout victory in the Olympic women’s hockey tournament, Canada refused to apologize for being really good.

Gillian Apps scored three goals, Danielle Goyette had two more and the Canadians finished an overwhelming run through the preliminary round, routing Sweden, 8-1, on Tuesday.

The game was much tougher than Canada’s first two against Italy and Russia, which it won by a combined 28-0, but Coach Melody Davidson’s club still looks headed for a likely championship match against the U.S. on Monday.

With its vast advantage in goal differential, Canada will be the home team in the gold medal game if it wins its semifinal match. Some Canadian fans back home -- and even U.S. defenseman Angela Ruggiero -- accused the Canadian team of running up the score against Italy and Russia.

The Canadians deny any intimations of bad sportsmanship, but forward Hayley Wickenheiser warned they won’t show much mercy.

“This is the Olympics, and it matters,” Wickenheiser said. “If there was no goal differential that mattered, we would probably dump the puck in and sit back. But it makes a mockery at the same time when you just sit back. Fans don’t want to see that.... If I was watching [the U.S.] scoring so many goals, I might wonder too, but differential does matter.”

Being the home team means the Canadians would get the last line change during the gold medal match. Their opponent would have to make substitutions first, and Canada would be able to respond.

Apps, the 22-year-old granddaughter of Toronto Maple Leaf legend Syl Apps, scored three of Canada’s first four goals in another easy win for the defending Olympic champions. Kim St. Pierre made seven saves for Canada.

Ylva Lindberg scored late in the second period for Sweden (2-1), which won a bronze medal at Salt Lake City in 2002.

Germany 2, Switzerland 1 -- Michaela Lanzl had a goal and an assist and Jennifer Harss made 21 saves in Germany’s first victory of the tournament.

Tina Schumacher scored Switzerland’s first Olympic goal during the second period. The Swiss finished 0-3.

Russia 5, Italy 1 -- Sabina Florian scored Italy’s first goal in Olympic women’s hockey, but Svetlana Trefilova and Iya Gavrilova scored two goals apiece in Russia’s first victory in three games. Italy finished 0-3.