The two favourites were widely expected to contest the final in St Catharines and the mouthwatering showdown has now been booked.

Hosts Canada saw off Russia on home ice in front of 2,819 fans with Ashton Bell opening the scoring.

Ryleigh Houston converted on the rebound to make it 2-0, before Bell registered again to put the Russians out of the contest in the third period.

It was 4-0 just 25 seconds after that strike, thanks to Kayla Friesen who fired home with a neat finish.

"We started the game really well and kept going," said Canada's Emma Maltais, who earned two assists for her country.

"Now we're in the game we want to be in, and we're looking forward to a better start against the US than the last time."

Canada had already beaten Russia 5-2 in the group stage, but they were also beaten by the Americans, 4-1, in the opening round.

The US brushed aside Sweden in their semi-final, with Natalie Heising opening the scoring for the defending champions by finding the net over the glove of Swedish netminder Ellen Jonsson.

Sweden rallied in the second period but their brave effort was ended with two late American goals at the end of the second period.

Sydney Brodt slid a shot through Jonsson's pads for 2-0 and Emily Oden then found the net with just 10.2 seconds before the buzzer.

A fourth goal duly arrived thanks to Taylor Heise.

"Now that we're there, we're excited, and we want to win the gold," Heising said.

"We knew Sweden was going to be a tough game.

"They lost only 3-1 Canada in an exhibition game before the tournament, but we came out hard and played well."

Earlier, the Czech Republic had beaten Finland 3-1 to clinch fifth place.

The final will be played at the Meridian Centre in St Catharines tomorrow (January 15).