United States 2-1 Canada 
Four Nations Cup Preliminary Round
SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon 
Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Sydney Brodt scored the game-winner with 1:38 remaining in the third period to lift the U.S. Women’s National Team over Canada, 2-1, here tonight in its second preliminary round game of the 2018 Four Nations Cup at SaskTel Centre.

“We played our game tonight and came out with a hard-earned victory,” said Bob Corkum, U.S. Women’s National Team head coach. “We’re excited to carry this momentum on to our next match-up against Sweden on Friday.”

The U.S. Women’s National Team (2-0-0-0/W-OTW-OTL-L) will wrap up preliminary round play Friday when it takes on Sweden.

The U.S. struck first when Hannah Brandt picked up a loose puck in front of the Canadian net and scored just 1:18 into play.

Canada was called for a penalty with 3:44 remaining in the first period, leading to a series of great chances for the U.S. Cayla Barnes and Megan Keller both put shots on net during the power play, but neither could break through.

The U.S. put pressure on the Canadians early in the second period. Two minutes in, Kacey Bellamy ripped a shot from the blue line with Brandt streaking in front for the rebound. Brandt had two attempts during the net-front scramble, but wasn’t able to finish.

Sidney Morin helped keep the score at 1-0 when she broke up a two-on-one rush 3:39 into the middle frame. The play started when Canada’s Blayre Turnbull won the puck from Gigi Marvin on the blue line and broke free with Laura Stacey, but Morin was in position to make the stop.

Canada evened the score 3:31 into the third period when Kristin O’Neill connected with Loren Gabel in front for a shot that sailed past Alex Rigsby on the blocker side.

After nearly 15 minutes of end to end action, Brodt gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead with just 1:38 remaining on the clock, banging home a rebound off a shot from Brianna Decker.

Rigsby held strong in net during Canada’s final push and made 23 saves on the night for her first victory of the tournament.

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Canada, 33-24…Brodt was named the U.S. Player of the Game…The Four Nations Cup is an annual tournament that has been held in varying forms since 1996 (previously the Three Nations Cup). The U.S. is competing against Canada, Sweden and Finland in this year’s tournament. The U.S. has captured the Four Nations Cup title eight times (1997, 2003, 2008, 2011-12, 2015-17), finished second 12 times and third in the 2013 tournament. The U.S. holds an overall record of 51-5-5-23-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) in 86 Three / Four Nations Cup games.

BOXSCORE
1st Period
01:18 –  GOAL – Brandt (Knight, Cameranesi)
11:27 –  PEN – team, too many players
16:16 –  PEN – Nurse, tripping

2nd Period
39:38 –  PEN – Pfalzer, tripping

3rd Period
43:30 –  GOAL – Gabel (O’Neill, Rattray)
50:57 –  PEN – Bellamy, checking from behind + 10 min. misconduct
54:36 –  PEN – Krzyzaniak, body checking
58:22 –  GOAL – Brodt (Coyne, Decker)

GOALTENDERS
W:  Rigsby (23-24)
L:  Szabados (31-33)

SHOTS ON GOAL
 16+9+8 = 33
 4+10+10 = 24

ROSTERS
 Goaltenders: Alex Rigsby, Maddie Rooney. Defence: Cayla Barnes, Kacey Bellamy, Megan Bozek, Kali Flanagan, Mikaela Gardner, Megan Keller, Sidney Morin, Emily Pfalzer. Forwards: Hannah Brandt, Sydney Brodt, Dani Cameranesi, Kendall Coyne, Brianna Decker, Amanda Kessel, Hilary Knight, Caitrin Lonergan, Gigi Marvin, Annie Pankowski, Kelly Pannek, Melissa Samoskevich.
 Goaltenders: Emerance Maschmeyer, Shannon Szabados. Defence: Jamie Bourbonnais, Renata Fast, Laura Fortino, Micah Hart, Katelyn Gosling, Halli Krzyzaniak, Jocelyne Larocque (A). Forwards: Victoria Bach, Mélodie Daoust (A), Sarah Fillier, Loren Gabel, Rebecca Johnston, Sarah Nurse, Kristin O’Neill, Marie-Philip Poulin (C), Jamie Lee Rattray, Jillian Saulnier, Natalie Spooner, Laura Stacey, Blayre Turnbull.

UNITED STATES (C)	vs.	CANADA
current champion (since 02/22/2018)	Last Title	02/22/2018
126	All-Time Wins	219
62 wins	Head-To-Head (+ 1 tie)	82 wins
First IHLC Meeting (USA vs. CAN)  CAN 2-1 USA  – 04/21/1987 – WWT – North York
Previous IHLC Meeting (USA vs. CAN)  USA 3-2 CAN  (SO) – 02/22/2018 – OG – Gangneung
Last IHLC Game  USA 5-1 FIN  – 11/06/2018 – FNC – Saskatoon
Next IHLC Game  USA 5-1 SWE  – 11/09/2018 – FNC – Saskatoon

Article Credit: USA Hockey
Photo Credit: Hockey Canada – IIHF – HHOF – IOC