๐บ๐ธ United States 2-0 Canada ๐จ๐ฆ
Rivalry Series, Game 4
TD Place Arena, Ottawa ๐จ๐ฆ
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
The Beijing Olympics are still two months away, but the rivalry between the Canadian and American womenโs hockey teams is already running high.
The sellout crowd at Ottawa’s TD Place got a first-hand look on Tuesday night, and while they may have been disappointed by the end result, they were highly entertained.
Maddie Rooney posted a shutout for the U.S., stopping 26 shots in a 2-0 win over Canada in the fourth game of the Rivalry Series.
Ann-Renรฉe Desbiens made 18 saves for Canada.
The series is tied 2-2 after Canada took the first two games and the Americans battled back for a 3-2 overtime win on Sunday.
“I think one of the big takeaways is that itโs going to be a battle right to the end,” said Canada’s head coach Troy Ryan. “Itโs going to be competitive. I think both teams match up well together against each other and we can expect a battle moving forward.”
Rooney looked solid from start to finish and was in form when needed most.
“Itโs just a common phrase, but your goaltender is your best penalty killer and I thought Maddie was fantastic (Tuesday),” said U.S. head coach Joel Johnson. “Not just on the penalty kill, but overall.”
Special teams proved to be the difference on the night as Hillary Knight and Amanda Kessel each scored a power-play goal for the Americans.
After a scoreless first period Canada dominated play at the start of the second, but penalty trouble left them trailing 2-0 by the end of the frame.
“I think we just learned that we have to play our way and do the things that make us successful and we got away from that a little bit in the second period,” said forward Jamie Lee Rattray. “Honestly, when we stay disciplined and start playing that way itโs very hard to compete with us.”
The U.S. got on the board during its first power play of the game as Megan Kellerโs point shot deflected off Knightโs skate to beat Desbiens.
Canada then took consecutive tripping penalties and the Americans took advantage, scoring on a 5-on-3 as Kessel fired a one-timer from the slot.
“I think the takeaway is that the penalties we take, weโve got to be much more selective in the types of penalties we take,” Ryan said. “We canโt be taking those types of penalties that cost us and give them a chance to win.”
Canada had the support of 8,385 fans as it trailed 2-0 heading into the third, but were unable to give the crowd the comeback they wanted.
With 3:22 remaining, Hannah Brandt of the U.S. took a faceoff violation penalty and Canada pulled Desbiens for a two-man advantage, but the home side still couldnโt beat Rooney.
“She played unbelievable,” said Keller.
A scoreless first period accentuated the rivalry between the two teams.
At the 16-minute mark, U.S. forward Jesse Compher had a good chance in tight and Emily Clark took exception to her bumping Desbiens. The two came just shy of throwing punches.
The game was a rare opportunity for Rattray to play in front of hometown fans as she grew up in the suburb of Kanata, 20 minutes west of downtown Ottawa.
Canadaโs womenโs team will remain in Ottawa as they take part in the Capital City Challenge, a four-team tournament featuring three national menโs under-17 teams.
The Rivalry Series will shift to the U.S. next month with games 15 and 17 December in St. Louis and 20 December in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
BOXSCORE
1st Period
11:11 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Compher, roughing
16:04 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – Clark, roughing
16:04 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Murphy, roughing
2nd Period
22:48 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Stecklein, delay of game
25:27 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Barnes, cross checking
27:18 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – team, too many players
28:28 – ๐บ๐ธ PP GOAL – Knight (Keller)
32:33 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – Jenner, tripping
33:30 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – Zandee-Hart, tripping
34:26 – ๐บ๐ธ PP2 GOAL – Kessel (Carpenter)
37:31 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – Daoust, body checking
3rd Period
45:44 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Stecklein, interference
53:19 – ๐จ๐ฆ PEN – Fast, elbowing
56:38 – ๐บ๐ธ PEN – Brandt, delay of game
GOALTENDERS
W: ๐บ๐ธ Rooney (26-26)
L: ๐จ๐ฆ Desbiens (18-20)
SHOTS ON GOAL
๐บ๐ธ 7+8+5 = 20
๐จ๐ฆ 3+9+14 = 26
ROSTERS
๐บ๐ธย Goaltenders: Alex Rigsby, Maddie Rooney. Defence: Cayla Barnes, Megan Bozek, Jincy Dunne, Savannah Harmon, Caroline Harvey, Megan Keller, Lee Stecklein (A). Forwards: Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Alex Carpenter, Jesse Compher, Kendall Coyne (C), Britta Curl, Brianna Decker (A), Amanda Kessel, Hilary Knight (A), Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Hayley Scamurra, Grace Zumwinkle.
๐จ๐ฆ Goaltenders: Kristen Campbell, Ann-Renรฉe Desbiens. Defence: Erin Ambrose, Ashton Bell, Jaime Bourbonnais, Renata Fast, Jocelyne Larocque (A), Claire Thompson, Micah Zandee-Hart. Forwards: Victoria Bach, Emily Clark, Mรฉlodie Daoust, Jessie Eldridge, Sarah Fillier, Brianne Jenner (A), Rebecca Johnston, Kristin O’Neill, Marie-Philip Poulin (C), Jamie Lee Rattray, Jillian Saulnier, Natalie Spooner, Blayre Turnbull (A).
๐บ๐ธ UNITED STATES (C) |
vs. | CANADA ๐จ๐ฆ |
current champion (since 21 Nov 2021) |
Last Title | 21 Nov 2021 |
145 | All-Time Wins |
234 |
71 wins | Head-To-Head (+ 1 tie) |
91 wins |
First IHLC Meeting (USA vs. CAN) ๐จ๐ฆย CAN 2-1 USAย ๐บ๐ธย โ 21 Apr 1987 โ WWT โ North Yorkย ๐จ๐ฆ |
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Previous IHLC Meeting (USA vs. CAN) ๐บ๐ธย USA 3-2 CANย ๐จ๐ฆ (OT) โ 21 Nov 2021 โ RS โ Kingston ๐จ๐ฆ |
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Last IHLC Game ๐บ๐ธย USA 3-2 CANย ๐จ๐ฆ (OT) โ 21 Nov 2021 โ RS โ Kingstonย ๐จ๐ฆ |
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Next IHLC Game ๐จ๐ฆย CAN 2-1 USAย ๐บ๐ธย (OT) โ 15 Dec 2021 โ RS โ Maryland Heightsย ๐บ๐ธ |
Article Credit: TSN
Photo Credit: USA Hockeyย – IIHF – HHOF – IOC