Canada defeats USA 3-2 in 4 Nations Cup final
Brianne Jenner scored the only goal in the shootout, making Team Canada 4 Nations Cup champions
Canada and the U.S. met in the 4 Nations Cup gold-medal game on Saturday night. Despite some dominant play from the U.S. throughout the game, Canada would come out on top, winning 3-2 in the shootout.
These two teams certainly aren't strangers, as this was the seventeenth time that they faced each other in the finals of this tournament. Here's a look at what happened in the gold-medal game.
1st Period:
To the surprise of many fans, this game started off quietly. While both teams traded a few scoring chances, Team USA outshot Canada 8-4 and controlled most of the play. The first goal would not come until the final five minutes of the first period.
On a Canada power play, Jennifer Wakefield scored her second goal of the tournament, tipping a point shot from Tara Watchorn past Molly Schaus, and making it 1-0 for Canada. That's exactly how the first period would end.
2nd Period:
It didn't take long for Team USA to bounce back. Within the first two minutes of the second period, Brianna Decker netted her second goal of the tournament, beating Geneviève Lacasse and tying the game 1-1.
Canada came close to taking the lead again, when Brianne Jenner caught the U.S. on a turnover in their own zone and found herself alone in front of the net. She was unable to capitalize, and the game remained tied.
Not long after, Hilary Knight stripped Jocelyne Larocque of the puck, moved up the ice on a breakaway, and beat Lacasse through the five-whole. Team USA took the lead 2-1.
This lead had an expiration date, however, as Jennifer Wakefield tied things up with just over two minutes left in the period. Natalie Spooner picked up the puck along the boards and fed Jennifer Wakefield who was waiting in the slot. Wakefield made no mistake, and put the puck in the back of the net, to keep her team in this game.
The line of Jennifer Wakefield, Natalie Spooner and Brianne Jenner was by far Canada's best line of this game. Not only were they responsible for both of Canada's goals, but they also generated the majority of Canada's scoring chances.
3rd Period:
The third period solved nothing. Both teams had plenty of opportunities to score, as each side went on the power play twice throughout the period.
Despite Natalie Spooner seeming to score the go-ahead goal, it was waved off due to a U.S. penalty. The game remained tied and we were heading to overtime.
Overtime/Shootout:
The overtime period saw plenty of scoring chances from both ends, an exchange of power plays, but unfortunately, no goals. Neither team was able to score during the 4-on-4 action, and this game was to be decided by a shootout.
Brianne Jenner roofed a backhand past Schaus in the second round of the shootout, giving Canada the advantage. Geneviève Lacasse then made a glove save on Hilary Knight, and Canada was crowned 4 Nations Cup champions. This marks 14 times that Canada has won the tournament.
Bronze Medal:
Sweden beat Finland 2-1 in the bronze-medal game on Saturday afternoon. After Finland took the lead in the second period, Emma Nordin tied things up with under four minutes to play in the third. Jenni Asserholt scored halfway through the overtime period to win it for Sweden.
I hope you all enjoyed our coverage of the 4 Nations Cup. Congratulations to Team Canada!