WWHC Takeaways: Fast leads Canada to dominant win in quarterfinal rematch

Nearly a year ago to the day, Canada and Sweden took the ice for a quarterfinal bout at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship. That day, in Brampton, Ont., the hometown side battled its way to an overtime victory over the Swedes, Sarah Nurse ending the meeting in the extra frame.

This time around, with the two nations back on the world stage, a shot at semis up for grabs, Canada booked its ticket in far more emphatic fashion, putting together a dominant 5-1 quarterfinal win over the Tre Kronor.

It took just five minutes for Canada to match the number of goals they’d scored through all of regulation the last time these teams met on this stage. Veteran defender Renata Fast kicked things off early, cutting to the net two-and-a-half-minutes into the tilt, and beating Emma Soderberg five-hole. Laura Stacey added another just a few minutes later as the red-and-white came out swinging.

By the end of the night, Fast was receiving player-of-the-game honours, having potted another goal a period later, while playing a key role in slowing the Swedish attack. With the pair of goals Thursday, the Hamilton, Ont., native now leads all defenders in goals in the tournament, her three tallies also tied for fourth-most among all skaters overall. It’s been a sterling run for the PWHL Toronto rearguard, who’s been among her nation’s best performers at the tournament — if not No. 1 — with four points through five appearances. 

That said, it’s largely been an attack by committee from Canada so far through five games. With the five-goal outburst over Sweden, the red-and-white lead all nations at the tournament in terms of the number of players who’ve chipped in with at least one goal.

Thursday, that attack was simply too much for the team standing across from them. Canada outshot Sweden 18-9 through the first 20 minutes of the game, pushed that total to 29-12 through 40 minutes, and finished the game up 44-18 in the shots department.

While held off the board in this one, captain Marie-Philip Poulin paced her squad with six shots on net, and spurred her country’s exclamation-mark fifth goal of the tilt with a relentless offensive-zone sequence.

STIFF SPECIAL-TEAMS TEST PASSED

Thursday’s quarterfinal match-up pitted the 2024 tournament’s two best special-teams units against each other. Sweden entered the game with the tourney’s most prolific power play, while the Canadians brought the most stout penalty kill.

Both were put to the test often Thursday, and early on, it looked like Sweden’s skill with the extra attacker could be their path to an upset. Midway through the first period, Canada’s Emily Clark was sent to the box, sending the Swedes’ ever-dangerous unit over the boards for the first time. With seconds left on the advantage, they struck, cutting Canada’s lead to two. 

While it wound up as Sweden’s only goal of the night, it was a memorable one for 17-year-old Hilda Svensson. The Oskarshamn, Sweden native came into the game with a pair of power-play goals to her name already. With Thursday’s addition, she sits tied for the tournament lead with four tallies through five games, three of them coming on the power play.

Still, after the early stumble that opened the door for Svensson to cash in, Canada’s penalty kill found its footing and weathered the rest of the storm, killing off four more Tre Kronor power plays over the course of the game, preserving their lead.

MASCHMEYER STEADY IN THE CAGE AGAIN

It’s been veteran stalwart Ann-Renee Desbiens who’s largely been tasked with holding down the fort between the Canadian pipes. The PWHL Montreal netminder has been tops in the tournament so far, with three strong performances under her belt. Thursday, it was Emerance Maschmeyer’s turn to backstop her country, and the PWHL Ottawa talent proved she’s no less steady a presence back there.

While tested little by the Swedes courtesy of a stingy defensive performance in front of her, Maschmeyer did all that was asked of her, turning aside 17 of 18 shots — Svensson’s power-play marker the only one that got by her.

It was Maschmeyer’s second appearance in the tournament. Her first was just as steady — a 17-save shutout over Switzerland last week.

In all, the Bruderheim, Alta., native has stopped 34 of the 35 shots she’s faced at the tourney, giving the red-and-white all the peace of mind they could ask for when it comes to their two options between the pipes heading into Saturday’s semifinal and — hopefully — a shot at the gold medal after that.

UP NEXT

Canada appears set to face Czechia in the semifinal on Saturday, the latter having defeated Germany 1-0 in their own quarterfinal match-up earlier Thursday. Finland defeated Switzerland in the first quarterfinal tilt of the day, advancing towards a likely match with the United States, who meet Japan in the final match of the quarters.

Canada blanked Czechia 5-0 when the two teams met last week, Kristin O’Neill leading the way with two goals and three points overall, while three others tallied too, and Desbiens posted a 13-save shutout.

This is the 23rd straight year the Canadians have advanced to the semifinal of the Women’s World Championship. The red-and-white are looking for a shot at redemption in the final after falling to the Americans 6-3 in last year’s gold-medal game. Czechia, meanwhile, finished with the bronze at that 2023 tournament and will be aiming for the historic upset on Saturday.