Olympic veterans lead Americans to 5-1 rout of Finland in last tuneup for Vancouver Games

US whips Finland in final tuneup for Olympics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The U.S. women’s hockey team is right where it wants to be.

Well, almost.

The U.S. can’t wait to fly to Vancouver on Sunday and get the Olympic Games started.

But as far as the Americans’ physical, mental and emotional state, they’re in a very good place.

Jessie Vetter saved 24 of 25 shots and the Americans wrapped up their 10-game exhibition slate with a 5-1 win over Finland on Thursday night at the World Arena.

Four-time Olympians Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero scored for the U.S., which had 57 shots on goal, and Erika Lawler had a goal and an assist during a third-period flurry that turned a close game into a rout.

“We’re definitely playing the best hockey that we’ve played throughout the tour. Hopefully, we’ll have a little extra step in our feet once we get to Vancouver,” Vetter said. “We’re happy where we’re at right now. We’re all in a good place and we’re excited.”

Although the Americans are currently ranked No. 1 in the world and have won back-to-back world championships, they’re the second seed at the Olympics behind Canada because the Winter Games were seeded based on 2008 world rankings — and Finland is No. 3.

Canada, which is the two-time defending Olympic gold medalist, has beaten the Americans seven times in 10 games during the 2009-2010 season, leaving the U.S. team to embrace an underdog role.

“We’re going to Canada and we’re in their barn, so I think that they’re the favorites right now,” Lawler said. “But you know what, I have a lot of confidence in our team and I think we’re in a really good spot.”

They’re certainly affable but indisputably antsy.

“We’re sort of in a holding pattern right now. I think everybody’s anxious and excited to get up to Vancouver and get settled in the Olympic village,” U.S. coach Mark Johnson said. “So, tonight certainly was a real positive way to finish off the Quest Tour. The next step is to get on the plane and head up.”

But not before a scrimmage Saturday night between these teams at the Ice Hall next door, which Johnson acknowledged would present a challenge because it will be played on a back rink with hardly any spectators, and his primary goal will be to keep his players healthy.

“I’m sure it’s going to be in the back of every player’s mind. They’re one step from getting on the plane and actually being an Olympic athlete, going through the Olympic ceremonies,” Johnson said. “I’ve been in that situation. We played the Russians in Madison Square Garden and we were almost on the bus.”

Johnson scored two goals in the Americans’ “Miracle on Ice” upset of the powerful Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Games, something he’s occasionally spoken about with the team he’s preparing to take to Vancouver.

The Americans again played without top scorer Hilary Knight, held out as a precaution as she recovers from a lower-body injury that has sidelined her for three weeks. Johnson said Knight, who has 30 points in 22 games, also will skip the scrimmage.

The Americans clung to a 2-1 lead before breaking it open with three goals in the first eight minutes of the third period as the crowd of 5,242 began chanting “USA! USA!”

Along with Sweden, Finland figures it has what it takes to break the North American stranglehold on women’s international hockey despite having been outscored 15-4 in its last four games against the United States.

When these teams meet again Feb. 18 in the final game of pool play, it will be on the NHL-sized rink, not the big ice they played on Thursday night. So, the Americans probably won’t be able to get as many shots off.

“It wasn’t the best of us, we can do so much better,” Finland forward Nina Tikkinen said. “But it’s a good lesson for us to learn.”

“These games, they can help, but it’s not going to help you win the game the next time you play this team,” Johnson said.

Noora Raty, who plays at the University of Minnesota, and has been in the net the last two times the Finnish beat the U.S., kept this one close for two periods.

“It took us a while to get going this season but I think we’re peaking at the right time,” said Kelli Stack, who scored the first goal for the Americans and had an interception that led to the third-period barrage.

“To score that many goals against a great goalie that Noora Raty is, that’s awesome for us at this point in the season. We’re getting really excited and can’t wait to get out of here and go to Vancouver.”

AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed to this report.