Game recap: U.S.-Canada semifinals

Canadian goalie Carey Price posted the shutout, turning back all 31 shots by the Americans.

Forward Jamie Benn scored early in the second period. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester threaded a pass between three U.S. defenders to Benn just outside the crease and he fired a wrist shot past goalie Jonathan Quick.

Four years ago, with 27 million of Canada's 33 million citizens tuned in, Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal against Team USA in overtime in Vancouver in the gold medal game. And on Thursday, the U.S. women lost to Canada in the gold medal game for the third time in the past four Olympics.

"We didn't show up to play," Team USA defenseman Ryan Suter said. "It's kind of frustrating. We sat back. We were passive. You can't play scared. I thought we sat on our heels and just didn't take it to them at all. We had motivation. We just didn't take it on the ice."

"I always tell Canadians and nobody believes me: It's hard to win," said Mike Babcock, Canada's men's coach. "You don't just put your country's uniform on and win. It's hard. You have to line up the moon and stars to win. People don't believe that in Canada, but it's a fact."

TWO FOR THE OFFENSE

Zach Parise got eight shots on goal and Phil Kessel took four for the U.S., but no one else got more than three. "We forced them to play in their defensive zone a lot," Crosby said. "They've got a lot of guys who are skilled and they have a lot of speed, but I think we did a good job of keeping them in there for 20-second stretches and kind of taking away their energy offensively."

The United States, which has never won Olympic gold outside its own borders (having won only in Squaw Valley in 1960 and Lake Placid in 1980), will face Finland on Saturday in the bronze medal game. Three times in the past four Olympics, the Americans have faced Canada in an elimination game, and all three times they have lost.

"I think everyone expected a tight-checking game, but to say we would have gotten shut out, I don't think anyone would have thought that." — U.S. forward Patrick Kane.