Search KamloopsBCNow
The defending champion United States bounced back from a one-goal deficit in the third period to defeat Canada 3-1 in a first-day 2016 IIHF women’s world championship showdown in a sold-out Sandman Centre in Kamloops on Monday.
Hilary Knight scored twice and Brianna Decker notched the winner for the Americans. Knight and Decker finished 1-2 in tournament scoring last year.
Laura Portino replied for Canada, which scored first early in the third period on a powerplay.
The Americans have won six out of the past eight women’s Worlds, but Canada is the reigning four-time Olympic champion. The U.S. defeated Canada 7-5 in the 2015 gold medal game in Malmo, Sweden, so there was plenty of pride on the line.
As has become the norm between the North American archrivals in recent years, the U.S. had better wheels and puck movement, but Canada countered with its tenacious, never-say-die attitude.
“The big positive we can take out of that game is that we killed two 5-on-3’s and we were dominant all game. Moving forward we believe in our special teams and we did really well tonight in proving that.” — Laura Fortino, Canada
Canadian goalie Emerance Maschmeyer looked good in her first career world championship start, going head-to-head with the U.S.’s Alex Rigsby. Last year, Maschmeyer was Canada’s third goalie and did not play. The U.S. outshot Canada 38-23.
The Americans enjoyed the territorial advantage in the first period, due in a large part to having a pair of 5-on-3 powerplay opportunities.
In the second period, the torrid pace continued. Rigsby slid across to make a great save on Brianne Jenner’s one-timer off the rush. The U.S. came close to taking the lead off an Anne Pankowski near-breakaway.
The partisan red-and-white crowd at the Sandman Centre was loud and excited.
Fortino put Canada on the board 14 seconds in on the power play. Natalie Spooner and Agosta had come within a hair's-breadth of scoring during a goalmouth scramble. Fortino snared the puck above the hash marks and blasted it over a prone Rigsby.
“I’m definitely disappointed but what other coach wouldn’t be, but I’m definitely happy with the way that our team played tonight and we just have to find a way to put the puck in the net with more 5-on-5 play and continue to build off the momentum we created off our [penalty] kill.”- Head coach Laura Schuler
Just past the four-minute mark of the third period, Maschmeyer made a stellar glove save on the U.S.'s Dana Trivigno to maintain the lead. Krzyzaniak nearly put Canada up by two when she put one off the crossbar moments later.
Halfway through the third, Knight burst into the Canadian zone on the left side and unleashed a wrister that tipped off Krzyzaniak's stick and over Maschmeyer's glove to tie it at 1-1.
With 6:05 left, Decker gave the Americans the lead, pouncing on the rebound from a Monique Lamoureux drive in the slot and capitalizing.
“It’s always disappointing getting a loss especially against the U.S. and it doesn’t feel good but it gives us motivation. I was preparing myself for the start and of course when I got the call I was pumped and excited to play, not surprised, but honoured to [play].”- Emerance Maschmeyer, Canada’s goaltender
In the dying moments, the Canadians pulled Maschmeyer for a sixth skater and used up their timeout, but to no avail. Knight added an empty-netter with 20 seconds left.
The game saw the return of three famous Canadian veterans who did not play at the 2015 tournament: forwards Hayley Wickenheiser and Meghan Agosta and defender Meaghan Mikkelson.
On Tuesday, the Americans will face Finland, while Canada takes on Russia.