Canada takes Group A after a thrilling win over the United States (w/video)
It was the final game of the preliminary round for both Canada and the United States on Monday night. A win in any fashion for either nation would see them finish atop Group A, setting up a quarterfinal date with the third place team in Group B.
Canada would open the scoring first on the powerplay late in the first period. Sarah Fillier, who's taken the hockey world by storm at these Olympic Games, made a nice pass to Brianne Jenner, who roofed it past American netminder Maddie Rooney to make it 1-0 Canada.
The pass from Fillier🔥 The finish from Jenner 🔥
Canada takes a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by Brianne Jenner 🇨🇦 @HockeyCanada pic.twitter.com/Dp7RhJt4HW— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 8, 2022
The score would stay 1-0 for Canada until the half-way point of the second period when American forward Dani Cameranesi picked up her own rebound and slotted it into the open net.
The U.S. has tied things up in the 2nd period
Dani Cameranesi 🇺🇸 makes it 1-1 pic.twitter.com/u3cIKFZZJB— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 8, 2022
Just over two minutes later, Team USA would take the lead after Alex Carpenter put the puck right under the bar past Canada's Ann-Renée Desbiens.
Another one for the U.S. 🚨
Alex Carpenter makes it 🇺🇸 2-1 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/CyTOcGBh0i— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 8, 2022
The United States' lead wouldn't last long as 26 seconds later, Brianne Jenner would score her second of the game following a great pass from Sarah Nurse to tie the game up at 2-2.
BRIANNE JENNER 🚨
Right after the U.S. took a 2-1 lead Jenner ties things up 2-2 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/4oomZ0bVCE— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 8, 2022
Nearly two and a half minutes later, Canadian forward Natalie Spooner brought the puck around the net and passed it cross-crease to Jamie Lee Rattray, who scored her third of the tournament, to make it 3-2 for Canada.
Jamie Lee Rattray continues to impress at her first Olympic Games 🔥
Another goal for Canada and it is 🇨🇦 3-2 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Bxj5GmLuSi— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 8, 2022
With just over two and a half minutes to play in the second period, Canada's captain, Marie-Philip Poulin took the puck from her own end, split the American defencemen, and was in all alone. Poulin was hooked by Cayla Barnes and Canada's captain received a penalty shot. On the penalty shot, Poulin was calm and collected as always, as she put the puck past Maddie Rooney's blocker side to give Canada a 4-2 lead.
MARIE-PHILIP POULIN 🔥🔥🔥
Captain Clutch with a NASTY penalty shot goal to make it
🇨🇦 4-2 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/xfOaMQDpog— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 8, 2022
The third period saw no scoring as Canada held on to the 4-2 win to finish on top of Group A with a 4-0-0-0 record, outscoring their opponents in the preliminary round 33-5.
Canada will now face off against the third place team in Group B in the quarter-finals either on February 11th or 12th (Beijing time), while the United States will play the second place team in Group B, also on February 11th or 12th.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Patrick Maroon | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Lukas Reichel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Travis Konecny | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Anze Kopitar | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Quinton Byfield | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Noah Cates | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Sean Couturier | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Marcus Johansson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Adrian Kempe | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Matvei Michkov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Martin Pospisil | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Kevin Rooney | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Igor Sharangovich | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Carter Verhaeghe | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Matthew Boldy | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Bobby Brink | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Kevin Fiala | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Tyson Foerster | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nazem Kadri | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 20 | 17 | 3 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||