Make that seven of nine for U.S.
Overtime goal over Canada gives Americans the title again
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Alex Carpenter dashed Canada’s hopes of reclaiming women’s world hockey championship gold on home ice.
The daughter of former NHL player Bobby Carpenter scored the overtime winner for the United States in a 1-0 win over the host country Monday in Kamloops, B.C.
The U.S. went undefeated in the tournament en route to a third straight world title. Coached by former NHL defenceman Ken Klee, the Americans outscored their opponents 23-2 in the tournament.
Canada and the U.S. have met in every final of the 17 women’s world championship. Canada won the first eight, but momentum has swung south of the border with their archrivals taking seven of the last nine.
“For sure this one stings a lot more, especially playing in Canada,” Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin said. “Every time you work so hard for something and you get silver, that’s hard.”
In contrast to last year’s 7-5 finale, the 2016 championship game at the Sandman Centre was a goaltending showcase.
Emerance Maschmeyer of Bruderheim, Alta., made 33 saves in her first start in a world championship final. The 21-year-old dressed for two games but did not play i n Malmo, Sweden, in 2015.
Alex Rigsby posted a 32-save shutout. The 24-year-old finished out last year’s final playing just over a period in relief of Jessie Vetter. Rigsby said the experience set the table for her in Kamloops.
“It definitely helped getting that gold-medal victory,” she said. “Same thing, it was going out there and making sure I was trusting my talent and making sure I was doing the things I could do to help our team be successful.”
Canada’s power-play went 0for-6, including a pair of chances in overtime. “I thought we were all over them and we just had an unlucky bounce,” Canadian forward Meghan Agosta said. “We had power play after power play and couldn’t put it in.”
The U.S. power play was 0-for-3, but Carpenter scored shortly after time expired on a U.S. four-on-three in overtime. She got her stick behind a sprawling Maschmeyer to bat the puck in at 12:30.
Canada led 21-14 in shots after two periods, but were outshot 20-11 in the third period and overtime.
Rigsby’s spectacular pad save on a deking Laura Fortino and Maschmeyer stoning Carpenter on a short-handed breakaway had the sellout of 5,850 buzzing in the second period.
Maschmeyer stopped 35 shots in Canada’s 3-1 loss to the U.S. to open the preliminary round. The International Ice Hockey Federation directorate named her the tournament’s top goaltender.
Canada may be the reigning Olympic champion, but the Americans are winning more world championship skirmishes between Winter Games, and performing on demand more consistently.
Russia downed Finland 1-0 in a shootout for the bronze medal.