After nearly a week of Women’s World Championship action, Monday brings the game so many have been eagerly anticipating: Canada versus the USA.
This matchup marks the end of preliminary competition for both clubs and gives us a glimpse of what could be in store Apr. 16 when these teams are expected to meet again with a gold medal on the line.
Both sides enter Monday night’s matchup a perfect 3-0, the winner grabbing first place in Group A heading into the elimination round beginning Thursday.
After a string of American success, including five straight golds for Team USA at the worlds from 2013 to 2019 and Olympic gold in 2018, the momentum has swung back in Canada’s favour of late. Canada won back-to-back golds at the world championship in 2021 and 2022 and won Olympic gold at the 2022 Games.
The Canada-USA Rivalry Series, too, reflects that major swing in favour of the red and white — this year’s series saw Canada climb back from a 3-0 series deficit with four straight wins to wrap up the victory in February. Canada registered five goals in each of Games 6 and 7, its offensive prowess clearly on full display, but it was the squad’s defence and goaltending that really shone. In all four wins put together, Canada allowed just five U.S. goals, including just two in the final two games combined.
When it comes to offensive output so far at this tournament, Team USA ranks first with 22 goals scored through three games, just one more than No. 2 Finland (Group B’s leader).
"They look good. I think they always do. We've always got a ton of respect for them as a program and as a team and they look good again now. They're obviously flying high offensively," Team Canada head coach Troy Ryan said Saturday night, following his team's 5-0 win over Japan.
Canada sits third with 14 goals in the tournament. Canada’s fired more pucks at opposing netminders than anyone else (151) but has run into some hot goalies as their shooting percentage sits at 9.27.
American defender Caroline Harvey (two goals, six points) and forward Taylor Heise (one goal, six points) currently lead the way for Team USA and sit fourth and fifth, respectively, in tournament statistical standings. Sarah Fillier, who led Canada's charge against Japan Saturday, has been Canada's hottest player so far at this tournament with three goals and five points.
Defensively, Canada has been nearly unsolvable, ranking first in shots on goal (allowing just 38) and giving up just a single goal against through three games for a combined save percentage of .974. Both starter Ann-Renee Desbiens, who suited up for Canada’s first two contests, and backup Emerance Maschmeyer, who played versus Japan Saturday, have earned a shutout. Canada has gone largely untested in their own zone, however — something Ryan pointed to on Saturday as an aspect of Canada’s game he’d be focusing on in Sunday’s practice.
"We haven't had a lot of time with an aggressive forecheck against us just because we've had puck possession so long,” he said. “So, working on working against a forecheck and breakouts under pressure and those sort of things just to get our game up to what the U.S. will bring.”
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