Three Stars from Day 4 of the WWHC: Poulin helps Canada power past Japan

The fourth day of the IIHF Women’s World Championship saw four teams face off: Canada and Japan in a Group A matchup followed by Denmark and Hungary in Group B.

After being promoted to Group A competition following the barring of Russia from IIHF play, a relatively young Japanese team came into the day looking for their first win of the tournament after falling 10-0 to USA and 3-1 to Switzerland. 

Canada, however, was looking to continue their undefeated streak — and that’s exactly what they did. Keeping their foot on the gas for 60 minutes straight, the team went into offensive overdrive, ultimately taking the game 9-0 with goals from eight different skaters.

With shots on goal finishing at 69-5 for Canada, Japan inevitably struggled to spend much of the game outside of their own zone. 

Coincidentally, Canada also won 9-0 the last time the teams met at the Women’s Worlds, back in 2000. Their only other meeting was 10 years prior to that when Canada took it 18-0 in 1990. 

Both teams have just one game remaining in the preliminary round with Japan facing Finland next on Monday, and Canada going head-to-head against the USA on Tuesday to defend their top spot in Group A.

In a much quieter matchup on the scoring front, host Denmark was able to defeat Hungary 1-0. Despite solid efforts and chances from both sides, the first two periods went by without a goal. Julie Ostergaard was able to eventually open the scoring and give Denmark the lead at the start of the third period, sending the puck top shelf off a long pass up ice from Josefine Jakobsen.

After losing all four of their games last year, the win marked Denmark’s first ever in the top division of the IIHF Women’s World Championship. 

Hungary and Denmark are now tied for three points each in Group B standings. The race to earn a spot in the quarterfinals, and avoid relegation, will continue for the teams as Hungary matches up with Sweden on Monday and Denmark meets with Germany on Tuesday. 

With Japan earning themselves a penalty just over one minute into the first period, Bach made the most of Canada’s opponents being short-handed to open the scoring. Getting around her defender with a toe drag, she was able to rip a high wrister past the blocker of Japan’s Akane Konishi. 

Later on in the game, Bach had the primary assist on Blayre Turnbull’s goal. Getting past her defender once again, Bach was able to send a backhand pass through the crease for a backdoor tap-in from her linemate to make it 4-0. 

Her third point of the night was a secondary assist in the second period on Ella Shelton’s first national team goal. The play started with Bach barrelling down the middle of the ice to Japan’s net, passing to Kristen O’Neill on the left wing, who then found Shelton to bury it top shelf. 

Bach now sits tied for 13th in this year’s scoring with four points in three games. 

Both of the games on Sunday’s schedule saw strong goaltending performances. 

Although they allowed Canada to get nine past them overall, Japan’s two goaltenders fared extremely well considering they were up against nonstop pressure from their powerhouse opponents.

Konishi opened the game, facing 33 shots on goal and making 29 saves. Minutes into the second period, Japan subbed in Riko Kawaguchi who finished the game, facing 36 shots on goal and making 31 saves. It marked Konishi’s second appearance in the tournament so far — after playing half of the game against the USA — and Rawaguchi’s first appearance.

Aniko Nemeth and Lisa Jensen also held their nets well for Hungary and Denmark, respectively. Nemeth faced 19 shots on goal, shutting out Denmark for two periods and ultimately making 18 saves.

Jensen’s performance, however, was especially impressive as she faced 45 shots on goal and earned the shutout for her team. Even after Hungary pulled their goalie in the final minute of play for the extra attacker, Jensen was able to hold on to blank the opponents. 

Captain Clutch had two goals and an assist in Canada’s contest against Japan. On a power play in the first period, Poulin made it 2-0 going short-side top shelf off a pass from Erin Ambrose. 

Her second goal of the day extended Canada’s lead in the second period to 5-0. After a successful backcheck on the play, Poulin was able to breakaway with the puck and shoot it five-hole past Kawaguchi. 

Poulin also had the primary assist on Sarah Fillier’s power-play goal to close the game out at 9-0. 

Her effort and grit were on display through all three periods. But an especially memorable moment came in the second after Poulin had already helped the team to a very comfortable 5-0 lead. On yet another power play for Canada, Poulin was very clearly still giving her absolute all to try and score, even desperately diving for the puck at one point.

With 60 points over the duration of her career so far, Poulin passed Krissy Wendell-Pohl and Jennifer Botterill, to now sit 10th all-time at the Women’s Worlds.