The four top teams in women’s hockey played in the last major tune-up before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. After the round robin event, it is clear that there is no clear favourite heading into Vancouver.

Two months ago, Canada, USA, Finland and Sweden played a test event in Vancouver. The Americans, who won gold at the last two World Women’s Championships, won that event with little resistance from the Canadians. But since the test event, Canada has regrouped and come back strong.

In October, Canada won both exhibition games against the U.S. team, 3-1 in Victoria and 5-2 in Spokane.

Last week’s Four Nations Tournament in Finland was the next test for the two teams. They each won their games against Finland and Sweden before the North American clash in Vierumäki.

Natalie Darwitz and Hilary Knight scored a pair of special teams goals to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead, but the Canadians equalized with goals from Rebecca Johnston and Marie-Philip Poulin. Meghan Duggan put the Americans back on top with the eventual game-winner at 39:46.

One day later in Tikkurila, Canada and USA faced off again in the final game. USA’s Jocelyne Lamoureux opened the scoring at 9:39, but this time the Canadians turned the game.

Four minutes after the first goal, Canada led 2-1 thanks to goals from Carla MacLeod and Meghan Agosta. The U.S. got into penalty trouble, giving the Canadian offence the window it needed to put in another three goals and claim the lopsided 5-1 win.

The Canadians scored eight of their 15 goals at the tournament on the power play and led the penalty-killing stats. Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser paced all players with one goal and five assists. Teammate Jayna Hefford scored four goals.

Canada and the U.S. are now even with each three wins each in six exhibition games.

Lost in the North American hype was the silver lining for the European teams: Strong goaltending. Sweden’s Kim Martin led all netminders with a 95.06 save percentage, just ahead of Finland’s Noora Räty (93.67) and Sweden’s Sara Grahn (92.86).

Finland and Sweden played two close games that both went into overtime after a 1-1 score in regulation.

Pernilla Winberg scored Sweden’s game-winning goal at 3:44 in overtime in the first game. While in the second meeting, it was Sweden’s Isabelle Jordansson and Katarina Timglas that scored in the shootout to lift Sweden to third place.

Sweden holds a 4-1 record against Finland in this year’s exhibition games. The Finns won bronze at the last two World Women’s Championships, but have yet to find their rhythm against the Swedes this season.

Canada and Team USA will continue their series with two games in the U.S. on December 12 (Denver) and December 30 (Colorado Springs), and two games in Canada on December 15 (Calgary) and January 1 (Ottawa).

Four more international tournaments involving Olympic teams will be played in Europe before the Vancouver Olympics:

November 12-14: Halloween Cup in Prievidza, Slovakia, with the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia and Switzerland.

December 18-20: Euro Hockey Tour in Finland with Finland, Germany, Russia and Sweden.

December 18-20: Mountain Cup in Romanshorn, Switzerland, with Austria, Kazakhstan, Slovakia and Switzerland.

January 2-6: MLP Nations Cup in Ravensburg, Germany, with Canada, Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.