U.S. extends reign at Four Nations Cup

Canadian women’s team drops its fourth consecutive final to the Americans

SASKATOON — The U.S. women’s hockey team claimed its fourth straight Four Nations Cup title Saturday with a 5-2 win over host Canada.

Holders of the world and Olympic titles, the American women reinforced their status as the No. 1 women’s team in the world by beating their archrivals on home ice at the SaskTel Centre.

The last time Canada beat the U.S. in a tournament final was the 2014 Four Nations in Kamloops, B.C.

Hilary Knight scored twice for the U.S., with Brianna Decker, Melissa Samoskevich and Kendall Coyne Schofield each contributing a goal to Saturday’s victory. Dani Cameranesi assisted on a pair of goals.

Defenders Laura Fortino and Jaime Bourbonnais scored Canada’s goals. Starting goalie Shannon Szabados was pulled for Emerance Maschmeyer after the U.S. scored its fifth goal early in the third period.

Szabados made 18 saves followed by Maschmeyer’s two in relief.

The U.S. edged Canada 3-2 in a shootout in February’s Olympic final in South Korea, which ended Canada’s run of Winter Games gold at four straight.

U.S. coach Bob Corkum gave Alex Rigsby the nod in goal Saturday over Maddie Rooney, who backstopped the Americans in the Olympic final. Rigsby repelled 23-of-25 shots for the win.

Bourbonnais scored a power-play goal at 9:57 of the third period. She found a seam with a shot from the blue line over Rigsby’s shoulder.

Coyne Schofield scoring on a rebound 41 seconds into the third ended Szabados’ night.

Knight and Decker struck within 24 seconds of each other in the second period starting with Decker on an odd-man rush at 11:37.

Knight collected her second goal of the game redirecting a Sidney Morin shot over the shoulder of a screened Szabados.

Compared to its play in the preliminary round, Canada’s defence was tighter to start Saturday’s game.

The U.S. carried a 10-7 and 21-17 edge in shots at period breaks. They led 2-1 heading into the second thanks to a Samoskevich tap-in at 16:21 of the first. Fortino drew the hosts even at 3:49 weaving a wrist shot from the blue line through traffic. Knight scored a wraparound goal at 1:28 of the first period.

Earlier Saturday, Finland scored a trio of third-period goals to down Sweden 4-2 to earn the bronze medal.

The 2019 women’s world hockey championship will be held April 4-14 in Espoo, Finland.

— THE CANADIAN Brianna Decker of the U.S. scores on Canada’s Shannon Szabados during Saturday’s Four Nations Cup gold-medal game in Saskatoon. The U.S. won, 5-2.