The Canadian women’s hockey team made an emphatic statement to finish a seven-game, pre-world championship series with the U.S.
The Canadians routed the Americans 5-0 on Wednesday in Laval, Quebec, their biggest win in the rivalry since 2005, according to Hockey Canada. After losing the first three games of this year’s Rivalry Series, Canada won the last four to take the series 4-3.
Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped all 25 U.S. shots. Blayre Turnbull scored twice, Laura Stacey had three assists and Marie-Philip Poulin had a goal, her 98th with the national team.
“It’s always a battle between these two teams, and their goaltender shut the door tonight,” U.S. head coach John Wroblewski said, according to USA Hockey. “It’s obviously not the way we wanted to close out the series, but we’ll regroup and look ahead to April.”
Last May, the former AHL coach Wroblewski was named U.S. head coach to succeed Joel Johnson, who coached the team to silver at last year’s Olympics.
Canada is rolling into hosting April’s world championship tournament in Brampton. In November, the U.S. reeled off its first three-game win streak against Canada since early 2019, but Canada has taken back momentum and seeks a third consecutive world title.
Last year, it swept the Olympic and world titles, repeating as world champion for the first time since it won the first eight world championships from 1990 through 2004.
Wednesday’s result was the biggest blowout in the rivalry since the U.S. beat Canada 9-2 in group play at the 2012 World Championship. A week later, Canada beat the U.S. 5-4 in overtime in that world championship final.
Wednesday was Canada’s biggest margin of victory over the U.S. since a 7-0 win in November 2005 in Italy.
OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us!
