Szabados backstops Canadian women to win

EDMONTON — In a career of memorable games in Canada’s net, Shannon Szabados believes Sunday’s 2-1 overtime win over the United States will end up ranking high on her list.

The 31-year-old made 34 saves in her hometown for the national women’s team. Jennifer Wakefield scored the winner with 27 seconds remaining in overtime.

Szabados was in Canada’s net for Olympic gold-medal victories over the U.S. in both 2010 and 2014.

She held Canada in Sunday’s contest when her team was outshot 25-10 over the second and third periods.

“This is probably for sure in my top five,” Szabados said. “I feel like I’ve played in some pretty big games. This was pretty incredible.

“I think I had close to probably 300 people in the stands today, friends and family. Just being from Edmonton, born and raised, you couldn’t ask for anything better than this.”

Canada wrapped up its six-game exhibition series against the Americans with a 5-1 record. The archrivals won’t meet again until their pool game Feb. 15 at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

But Canada opens defence of its gold Feb. 11 against Russia, who recently had six players banned by the International Olympic Committee for doping violations and had its sixth-place result in 2014 stripped.

With 26 players still centralized in Calgary where the Canadian team is preparing for the Winter Games, three skaters still have to be released to get down to a roster of three goalies and 20 skaters.

In Sunday’s win, Wakefield shovelled the puck into the U.S. net on a Canadian rush in overtime.The goal was reviewed and allowed to stand.

Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que., scored a power-play goal in the first period.

Hilary Knight replied for the U.S., which has won four straight women’s world championships. Maddie Rooney had 24 saves in defeat.