Canada beats US 1-0 in men's ice hockey semi-final clash at Sochi Olympics

Defending champions Canada have defeated the United States 1-0 in the men's ice hockey semi-final clash at 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, setting up a gold medal clash with Sweden in the finals.

Canada, which reached their second-straight Olympic final, will face Sweden in Sunday's championship game after the Swedes topped Finland 2-1 in an all-Nordic semi-final clash.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Jamie Benn scored early in the second period and goaltender Carey Price stopped all 31 shots he faced for the shutout as Canada defeated the US in a repeat of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic final.

The report mentioned that Canada and the US, which would square off with Finland for the bronze medal on Saturday, also met in the gold medal match of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, which was also won by Canada.

The loss was the first of the tournament for the USA in five games and it kept their record intact of never have won a gold medal outside of North America, the report added.