By Maeve Hushman, Staff Writer
Olympic Women’s hockey is one of the best sports in the winter Olympics and no, you will never change my mind. As a seldom patriotic person, nothing makes me chant USA like the United States women’s hockey team. Team USA is the defending gold medalist with Canada, the other top women’s hockey power, losing out in the shootout in the finals in PyeongChang. Now, Canada is coming for the United State’s Gold and the United States wants to defend it. However, while team USA and Canada are the main focus of this recap, there have been a lot of big stories in women’s hockey this year. Denmark for the first time ever has a women’s hockey team. China has returned to the women’s hockey competition for the first time since 2010.
The preliminary round is over and here is how the two top teams in the tournament did.
Day 1:
Canada vs. Switzerland
Canada Wins!
Final Score: 12-1
Shot count: Canada: 70 Switzerland: 15
Goalscorers:
Canada: Blayre Turnbull (2), Natalie Spooner (2), Sarah Fillier (2), Laura Stacey (2), Claire Thompson (1), Rebecca Johnston (1), Ashton Bell (1), Erin Ambrose (1)
Switzerland: Lara Stalder (1)
Takeaways: Canada is incredible. 70 shots and 12 goals are awe-inspiring. Last Winter Olympics, the Canadian team took silver after losing to Team USA in the shootout. This year they seem intent on showing off that they have the caliber team to challenge the reigning champion, USA, for that gold medal. Also, Sarah Fillier certainly doesn't look like a first-time Olympian or the youngest on her team.
Day 2:
USA vs. Finland
USA Wins!
Score: 5-2
Shot count: 52-12
Goal Scorers:
USA: Kendall Coyne-Schofield (2), Alex Carpenter (2), Amanda Kessel (1)
Finland: Susanna Tapani (2)
Takeaways: Even though they didn't score 12, the USA without Brianna Decker (who was injured at the beginning of the game) still dominated it. Team USA is 7-0 in Olympic opening games. They limited Finland to only 5 shots in the 1st period, 1 in the 2nd, and 6 in the third. Their speed was incredible, and their defense was just as impressive with their offense 5 on 5 as both of Finland's goals came on the power play. Team USA handily beat the third-place team in the world, establishing themselves again as the reigning champions and team to win this Olympics in Beijing.
Day 3:
Canada v Finland
Canada Wins!
Score: 11-1
Shot Count: Canada: 48 Finland: 29
Goal Scorers:
Canada: Sarah Nurse (3), Brianne Jenner (3), Laura Stacey (2), Sarah Fillier (2), Jamie Lee Rattray (1)
Finland: Minnamari Tuominen (1),
Takeaways: Team Canada is a wagon. They are the biggest threat and rival to team USA, and yet how can you not love watching them regardless of nationality? They are offensively dominant, and they absolutely control whatever ice surface they are on. However, while the Canadians beat Finland by a greater score than the United States, the USA held Finland to only 12 shots. Compared to the American’s shot count, the shot count indicates that Canada plays a much more open game that allows them to generate offense at such an impressive rate, but not be as dominant on the shot clock. Finland is really looking for that bronze spot after being absolutely stomped by both the USA and Canada.
Day 4:
USA vs. Russia Olympic Committee (ROC)
USA Wins!
Score: 5-0
Shot Count: USA: 62 ROC: 12
Goal Scorers:
USA: Savannah Harmon (1), Hilary Knight (1), Grace Zumwinkle (1), Jesse Compher (1), Alex Carpenter (1)
ROC: N/A
Takeaways: The USA scored five goals from five players and kept ROC limited to 12 shots on goal. This USA team is incredibly deep and incredibly well rounded, being solid on offense and defense. They play a gritty and tiring physical game and have more speed and skill than many other teams in the tournament. Jesse Compher scored her first-ever Olympic goal in this game, showing that the young guns and the stars can put up points for team USA. In their game against Switzerland, ROC got a lot of their goals in tight to the net; the USA prevented them from finding that space, keeping the shot and goal count low for the ROC. Nicole Hensley also posted a shutout, an awe-inspiring feat on the world stage. It was an excellent game for the USA.
Day 5:
USA vs. Switzerland
USA Wins!
Score: 8-0
Shot Count: USA: 66 Switzerland: 12
Goal Scorers:
USA: Hilary Knight (2), Jesse Compher (2), Kelly Pannek (2), Amanda Kessel (1), Dani Cameranesi (1)
Switzerland: N/A
Takeaways: The USA posted back-to-back shutouts with two different goalies, against the ROC with Nicole Hensley and against Switzerland with Alex Cavallini. Part of that success has to be attributed to the USA’s defensive efforts; they have not allowed more than 12 shots against in the entire tournament. They had three different players with 2 goal nights, including Jesse Compher, who scored her first Olympic goal last game. It says impressive things about the United States offensive depth, especially after losing Brianna Decker to injury for the rest of the tournament. They scored twice in nine seconds to make the game 3-0 in the first. Switzerland has not registered a win yet in the tournament and has suffered two brutal losses at the hands of the USA and Canada. Even against the ROC, the Swiss, despite only being outshot by one, lost 5-2.
Canada vs. ROC
Canada Wins!
Score: 6-1
Shot Count: Canada: 49 ROC: 12
Goal Scorers:
Canada: Sarah Nurse (1), Sarah Fillier (1), Jamie Lee Rattray (1), Erin Ambrose (1), Rebecca Johnston (1), Marie-Philip Poulin (1)
ROC: Anna Shokhina (1)
Takeaways: This game was delayed because team ROC failed to produce their Covid-19 results. Due to this failure, the game was played in masks. That just added to the intense difficulty of the highest level of international hockey. Canada continues their dominance in women’s hockey with this victory tying the USA for first with a record 3-0. This victory is significant since the Toronto Star the same day published an abomination of a click-bate article that declared women’s hockey unworthy of being in the Olympics. Team Canada continues to prove how talented and deserving women’s hockey players are, and continues the pattern of beating the same teams as the USA by a greater score, but the other team has managed to either score more or get more shots. Canada only allowed 12 shots like the USA, but they also didn’t get a shutout like team USA. This suggests that the USA plays a tighter defensive style to Canada’s more open offensive style, which comes in waves. The ROC needs to pick up their play if they want a shot at bronze.
USA vs. Canada
Canada wins!
Score: 4-2
Shot Count: Canada: 27 USA: 53
Goal Scorers:
Canada: Brianne Jenner (2), Jamie Lee Rattray (1), Marie-Philip Poulin (1)
USA: Dani Cameranesi (1), Alex Carpenter (1)
Takeaways: Whenever these two teams’ showdown, it is epic. This game was fast-paced and loaded with talent. However, team USA was goalied. Canada’s goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens made 51 saves. The USA dominated the first period, outshooting Canada 16-6, but for most of the period it was 13-2. Yet, Canada went into the second period with the lead because of a power play goal. Canada's special teams are incredible and are rolling. They are 94% on the penalty kill and 50% on the power play. That and goaltending were the significant factors. Maddie Rooney (USA's goaltender) and USA's penalty kill couldn't stop Canada on the power play. Desbiens stopped almost everything the USA threw at her. Rooney has a winning record against team Canada, so it is understandable why she started, but it is a bit shocking that they didn't ride one of the two goalies who got shutouts in the past two games. Granted those goalies only faced 12 shots, but usually, the hot goalie gets the start. Rooney was the only USA goalie to not get a shutout before this game, and she was absolutely outplayed by Desbiens.