US surges into gold-medal hockey game, routing Finland with 6 goals in opening period

US gets 6 goals in 1st period to reach title game

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The United States is on its way to playing for the Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey after a 6-1 romp over a beleaguered Finland.

The Americans scored four times on goalie Miikka Kiprusoff in a six-goal first period in Friday’s semifinal to storm into the title game.

The U.S. will meet the Canada-Slovakia winner on Sunday, 50 years to the day after capturing gold in 1960 at Squaw Valley, Calif.

This is the second time in three Olympics the American men will play for gold. They haven’t claimed the top spot on the podium since the 1980 Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid, N.Y.