๐จ๐ฆ Canada 3-2 United States ๐บ๐ธ
Rivalry Series, Game 2
XL Center, Hartford ๐บ๐ธ
Monday, 25 October 2021
Amanda Kessel isn’t panicking after the United States women’s hockey team opened its pre-Olympic series with two straight losses to rival Canada.
“This is the best that I think our team has felt,” said Kessel, who scored the tying goal as the Americans rallied from a 2-0 deficit before losing 3-2 on Monday night. “We have a really good thing going on inside of our locker room. Iโm really confident in our group and I really think that things are coming together inside of our locker room and it is going to show.”
A good place to start would be figuring out how to contain Canadaโs Sarah Fillier.
In a heated rivalry dating to the U.S. beating Canada for Gold in the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, a newcomer is making her presence felt.
The 21-year-old Fillier, who is delaying her junior season at Princeton, was unaccounted for in scoring a pair of backdoor tap-ins, including the game-winner with 3:58 remaining. Fillier, who also scored in the series-opening 3-1 win at Allentown, Pennsylvania, has six goals and nine points in nine games with the national team since making her debut at the World Championships in August.
“She just has a niche for the net, and getting around the net, and finding those spots where she can be successful,” linemate Natalie Spooner said. “I mean, sheโs a natural goal-scorer…Sheโs able to find those soft spots and get pucks in.”
The nine-game series between the teams resumes at Kingston, Ontario, on 21 November.
Victoria Bach also scored and Ann-Renรฉe Desbiens stopped 18 shots. The Canadians won gold over the Americans at the World Championships and have won four straight against the U.S. โ their best run since a five-game streak from 03 December 2017 to 15 February 2018.
Cayla Barnes had a goal and an assist and Nicole Hensley stopped 17 shots for the U.S.
An intense and sometimes chippy game was decided on an undisciplined high-sticking call against U.S. veteran defender Megan Keller, who cross-checked a Canadian player during a scrum near the benches.
Brianne Jenner set up the goal by driving into the right circle and feeding a wide-open Fillier, who swept in the puck at the left post. It was a mirror image of Fillierโs first two goals of the series, with both coming on tap-ins.
“Sheโs a talented, fast forward that you have to be aware of,” U.S. defender Barnes said. “But we donโt play her any differently than we play anyone else.”
Though he had not seen a replay, U.S. coach Joel Johnson downplayed Keller’s penalty.
“Iโm not worried about Megan Keller. Sheโs one of the best players in the world,” Johnson said. “I trust our players and you know, thereโs times people take poor penalties. Iโm not worried about if it was a good or bad penalty.”
The Americans, who gave up two goals on Canadaโs first two shots on net on Monday, have yet to enjoy a lead in the two games.
“I think it shows a lot about who we are and who we are trying to be,” Johnson said. “Obviously, we donโt want a slow start like that but the way we responded is important and we have to find that in the beginning of every game.”
The worldโs top womenโs hockey powers are preparing for the Beijing Winter Games in February, with the Americans attempting to defend their 2018 Gold Medal. Five of their past eight meetings have been decided by one goal.
NOTES: Three-time U.S. Olympian Kacey Bellamy was honoured during a pregame ceremony in which USA Hockey officials presented her a Number 22 jersey. Bellamy retired in May 2020…The U.S. has a hole in its schedule after a COVID-19 lockdown forced Russia to pull out of a three-game series in Belfast, Northern Ireland, starting on 09 November. “Itโs the world weโre living in today. We just need to learn to adapt and adjust,” said Katie Million, USA Hockeyโs director of womenโs national team programs. Million is attempting to schedule another opponent, though the games arenโt likely to be played in Belfast…USA forward Abby Roque did not play and was spotted walking on crutches on Sunday. She fell awkwardly on her right ankle during the third period on Friday.
BOXSCORE
1st Period
00:36 – ๐จ๐ฆ GOAL – Bach (Poulin)
05:03 – ๐จ๐ฆ GOAL – Fillier (Spooner, Daoust)
10:45 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – Poulin, boarding
12:32 – ๐บ๐ธ PP GOAL – Barnes (Harmon, Carpenter)
2nd Period
25:34 – ๐บ๐ธ GOAL – Kessel (Decker, Barnes)
30:35 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – Daoust, roughing
30:35 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Harmon, roughing
30:35 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – Fillier, diving
39:26 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Murphy, holding
3rd Period
55:22 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Keller, high sticking
56:02 – ๐จ๐ฆ PP GOAL – Fillier (Jenner, Poulin)
56:09 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Decker, roughing
GOALTENDERS
W: ๐จ๐ฆ Desbiens (18-20)
L: ๐บ๐ธ Hensley (17-20)
SHOTS ON GOAL
๐จ๐ฆ 4+7+9 = 20
๐บ๐ธ 11+6+3 = 20
ROSTERS
๐จ๐ฆ Goaltenders: Ann-Renรฉe Desbiens, Emerance Maschmeyer. Defence: Erin Ambrose, Ashton Bell, Jaime Bourbonnais, Jocelyne Larocque (A), Ella Shelton, Claire Thompson, Micah Zandee-Hart. Forwards: Victoria Bach, Emily Clark, Mรฉlodie Daoust, Sarah Fillier, Julia Gosling, Brianne Jenner (A), Rebecca Johnston, Sarah Nurse, Kristin O’Neill, Marie-Philip Poulin (C), Jamie Lee Rattray, Natalie Spooner, Laura Stacey.
๐บ๐ธย Goaltenders: Nicole Hensley, Alex Rigsby. Defence: Cayla Barnes, Natalie Buchbinder, Kali Flanagan, Savannah Harmon, Caroline Harvey, Megan Keller, Lee Stecklein (A), Anna Wilgren. Forwards: Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Alex Carpenter, Jesse Compher, Kendall Coyne (C), Brianna Decker (A), Lacey Eden, Amanda Kessel, Hilary Knight (A), Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Grace Zumwinkle.
๐จ๐ฆ CANADA (C) |
vs. | UNITED STATES ๐บ๐ธ |
current champion (since 26 Aug 2021) |
Last Title | 26 Aug 2021 |
231 | All-Time Wins |
143 |
91 wins | Head-To-Head (+ 1 tie) |
69 wins |
First IHLC Meeting (CAN vs. USA) ๐จ๐ฆย CAN 2-1 USAย ๐บ๐ธย โ 21 Apr 1987 โ WWT โ North Yorkย ๐จ๐ฆ |
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Previous IHLC Meeting (CAN vs. USA) ๐จ๐ฆ CAN 3-1 USA ๐บ๐ธ โ 22 Oct 2021 โ RS โ Allentown ๐บ๐ธ |
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Last IHLC Game ๐จ๐ฆ CAN 3-1 USA ๐บ๐ธ โ 22 Oct 2021 โ RS โ Allentown ๐บ๐ธ |
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Next IHLC Game ๐จ๐ฆย CAN 4-2 FINย ๐ซ๐ฎย โ 11 Nov 2021 โ EX โ Helsinkiย ๐ซ๐ฎ |
Article Credit: TSN
Photo Credit: KARE 11ย – IIHF – HHOF – IOC