BUFFALO – A day after the Under-20 men’s team won a thriller against Russia at the 2015 World Junior Championship in Toronto, the women’s U18 squad played a tight game of their own against the Russians in the U18 women’s World Championship preliminary round, coming out on top 3-2. In the other games the United States, Sweden, and Finland each got a W on their second day of competition.
Canada – Russia 3-2 (2-0, 1-1, 0-1)
Taking a 3-1 lead into the third period and enjoying a huge shots-on-goal advantage, Canada was cruising along before getting a scare in the final two minutes of their game against Russia.
On a late power-play Russian captain Fanuza Kadirova got the puck in front of the net on a rebound and buried it home to cut the lead to one goal. But the Canadian defence clamped down the rest of the way, and the team closed out the Russians 3-2 to improve its record to 1W-1L after an opening day loss to Team USA.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” said team captain Sarah Potomac. “It was disappointing last night losing to the U.S. but we wanted to come out strong today.”
Canada broke the ice with a goal less than two minutes into the game courtesy of forward Elizabeth Giguere, with Jaycee Gebhart and Stephanie Sucharda on the assists.
Canada added another midway through the period as 2014 leading scorer Potomak jumped on a loose puck in front of the net, getting her second goal of the tournament.
Russia trimmed Canada’s lead to 2-1 following a successful three-on-two rush late in the second, but moments later the Canadians answered as Giguere grabbed her second of the game with under a minute to go.
The Russians weren’t able to produce enough offence following Kadirova’s goal to force overtime, although head coach Alexander Ulyankin made the curious choice not to pull his goaltender in the final minutes of the game.
Russia will face 2014 silver medalists and tournament hosts USA on the final day of the preliminary round. Canada will play against the Czech Republic. Both teams are in the hunt for one of the two semi-final byes available to the top two teams in Group A.
USA – Czech Republic (1-0, 0-0, 2-0)
Team USA overcame a heroic effort by Czech goaltender Blanka Skodova to win its second game in a row at the U18 Women’s Worlds.
The victory, coupled with the earlier win against Canada, will help to secure Americans an automatic bye to the semi-finals.
The game began with the U.S. dominating puck possession. After the Czechs lost the puck in the U.S. defensive zone, Meckenzie Steffen sent the puck up to Alex Woken, who turned on the jets and went off on a breakaway. Woken’s low wristshot beat Skodova to give the States the 1-0 lead early.
The Czechs did a good job through the first two periods not letting the game get away from them, despite being badly outshot to the tune of 21 to 4.
Skodova performed exceptionally in net through 30 minutes, but just past the midway mark of the third U.S. forward Caitrin Lonergan gave her team the insurance goal, and with 24 seconds left the Americans sealed the 3-0 shutout with a gorgeous scoring play from Melissa Samoskevich.
Sitting comfortable atop Group A, The Americans will wrap up their preliminary round campaign on Thursday against Russia. The winless Czechs will face Canada, but regardless of the outcome are assured of a playoff spot by virtue of playing in the higher-seeded Group A.
Japan – Finland 2-4 (2-0, 0-2, 0-2)
After going the distance with the Swedes in their opening game, Team Japan built up a 2-0 lead against Finland only to lose 4-2, dropping its second straight game of the women’s U18 tournament.
Things were looking good for the Japanese early on thanks to a power play score from Aoi Shiga and an even strength goal from Moe Tsukimoto, her third of the tournament.
But the Finns finally broke their mini-scoring drought at the 2015 U18s midway through the second period thanks to a blast from defenceman Ronja Savolainen from just above the high slot area that beat goaltender Ayu Tonosaki five-hole.
Then, five minutes after Japan missed a scoring opportunity off a penalty shot by Nea Katajamaki, it was the turn of Sanni Hakala to take a penalty shot after she was held by Aoi Shiga. Hakala made no mistake on a triple forehand deke that finished with the puck into the top corner of the net, tying the game 2-2.
Japan was on the defensive for much of the third period, but a great effort from goaltender Ayu Tonosaki was spoiled by a miscue at 12:17, when she failed to glove a seemingly harmless high shot on net from Nelli Salomaki, having it bounce off her glove into the net. Then a shot from the point was deflected in front of the net by Hakala, giving the forward her second of the game and sealing the win for Finland.
The Finns have a day off before taking on Sweden in their final game of the preliminary round. With their loss today against Finland, Japan will need a high enough win against Switzerland and some help from Sweden in their game against Finland to jump to second place in the group and avoid competing in the relegation round.
Sweden – Switzerland 4-0 (2-0, 1-0, 1-0)
Kajsa Armborg and captain Jessica Adolfsson had two goals each as Sweden dispatched the Swiss 4-0, moving to a 2W-0L record and first place in Group B.
The Swedes jumped to a 3-0 lead as Armborg scored the first two 1:31 and 9:46 into the first period and Adolfsson added another on the power play. Switzerland meanwhile had no answer for the Swedish defence and the goaltending of Emma Sodergerg, who stopped all 22 shots that she faced.
The Swiss sit in 2
nd place in Group B with a 1W-1L record, and will take on Japan tomorrow. Switzerland will need to earn at least as many points against Japan as Finland against Sweden on the last day to assure itself of a spot in the playoffs and also hope there won't be a three-team tie with Finland and Sweden due to the negative combined goal record against these teams.
Click here for scores and statisticsADAM STEISS
