1CA 3:2 USA | Canada2 - USA (Olympics - Women)

Olympics - Men

Olympics - Women

Switzerland – Finland

3:4 (after OT)

Canada2 – USA

3:2 (end)

final

Canada2

3:2 (0:0, 0:1, 3:1)

USA

Wednesday 12.02.2014, 13:30 • Olympics - Women

		Thank you for following the game with us! Don't miss the starts of the men's tournament at 18.00 CET (12.00 ET / 21.00 MSK, the local time in Sochi) with the classic between Czech Republic and Sweden! (15:48:30)
		Canada came out of the dressing rooms with a lot of pressure and turned the match around with an early double by Meghan Agosta and Hayley Wickenheiser. Later in the match Agosta scored another one in a break away and everything looked decided but a late goal by USA's Anne Schlepper and a penalty against Canada in the last minute brought the win in serious danger again! In the end the close win for Canada is a bit lucky but not undeserved. We saw a high class game of two women hockey super powers who we are likely to see again in the Olympics final. For now both have reached the direct entry to the semifinals and they can lean back to see which quarterfinal participants they will face there! Shots on goal: Canada 12 (31) – USA 3 (27)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:54	Shots from all kinds of angles but Canada keeps the small lead!
	59:29	6 vs 4 in this very crucial moment and the Americans have the face off in the Canadian third!
	59:29	Two minute team penalty against Canada. Served by Meghan Agotsa in the penalty box!
	59:08	Jessie Vetter left her net again!
	58:58	Timeout taken by Canada!
	58:58	Goal for Team USA! The Americans play it with a lot of pressure in front of the Canadian net, ANNE SCHLEPER tries it with a one-timer from close to the left circle and Charline Labonte is not able to catch the puck with her glove and deflects it just below the crossbar – the Canadian goalie didn't look too good in this situation! Without assist.
	58:28	Jessie Vetter left the American net for an additonal skater!
	57:43	A shot by Gigi Marvin from the right wing is easily blocked to the side with a pad save by Charline Labonte.
	57:05	Canada with a line change and they just fire the puck deep into the US third.
	56:00	The Canadians now play a lot more defensive and only wait for counters while the Americans fail to get shots on target.
	54:55	Goal for Team Canada! And there is such a situation! MEGHAN AGOSTA starts in the own third, has an open middle lane in front of her and ends the break away by beating Jessie Vetter through the pads! What a goal!
	54:15	Not much time left on the clock for Team USA if they want to force the game into overtime. They have to take over the initiatve again and risk more which will give Canada counter chances and more space.
	53:59	The Americans are back at full strength after a harmless Canadian power play.
	51:59	Josephine Pucci (USA) gets two minutes for hooking.
	51:59	Rebecca Johnston with a long solo inside the American third but in the 1-on-1 with Jessie Vetter she fails to get enough pressure into a back hander while she is stopped by a defender.
	50:05	Jocelyne Lamoureux's pass from the right circle almost found its way into the back of the net when Canadian goalie Charline Labonte deflected the puck with her pads!
	49:00	The puck goes back and forth but no shots currently.
	48:09	Natalie Spooner tries it with a shot from the right circle but is stopped with a save by Jessie Vetter who was hit by the puck in the goalie mask before covering the puck up.
	47:45	By now Team USA cools the match a bit down and they even start attacks themselves again.
	46:30	The Americans are completely shocked by the two fast goals against and Canada keeps the pressure very high.
	43:54	Goal for Team Canada! A rush gives the Canadians the lead! HAYLEY WICKENHEISER tried it from the right circle and Vetter was very early on the ground and it looked like she should have had the puck under controll but somehow she couldn't get her glove on it! What a comeback by Team Canada! The video review was used to see if Natalie Spooner battled the puck with a rebound and with unfair means against Vetter but apparently she couldn't stopp the first shot and nobody else was involved! Assisted by Natalie Spooner and Meghan Agosta.
	42:21	Goal for Team Canada! After a blue line shot the Americans failed to clear the puck at the end of the power play and out of the crowd in front of the net the puck came to MEGHAN AGOSTA who waited completely alone at the right post and had no trouble at all scoring into the wide open net! The 1-1 is a very important goal for Canada and a perfect gift Agosta gives herself on her 27th birthday!
	41:48	The next opportunity for the Canadians through team captain Caroline Ouelette whsoe shot from within the slot was blocked to the side with a pad save by Jessie Vetter.
	40:53	Julie Chu (USA) gets two minutes for tripping. The following power play gives Canada a very good chance to get the equalizer.
	40:39	A shot by Canada's Natalie Spooner from the left circle is deflected out of play by an American defender.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		It took them a very long time and many, many opportunities but in the end a power play goal by Hilary Knight gives Team USA a small 1-0 lead after 40 minutes. Canada is shutout during the first two periods for the second time in a row after the Monday match against Finland which they eventually would win 3-0. Let's see how they react today! Shots on goal: Canada 11 (19) – USA 13 (24)
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:50	A blue line shot almost finds its way through the crowd into the right bottom corner but Charline Labonte keeps the result at 0-1.
	39:28	Hilary Knight steals the puck from a defender behind the Canadian net and almost scores with a back hande from short distance!
	38:36	Kendally Coyne with a huge chance from just left to the net but with the last defender being in front of her she failed to get the puck through!
	37:34	Goal for Team USA! Early in the power play HILARY KNIGHT beats Charline Labonte by deflecting a well-placed one-timer from within the slot by Anne Schleper into the left bottom corner! Everything but undeserved this lead! Assisted by Alex Carpenter and Anne Schleper.
	36:57	Lauriane Rougeau (Canada) gets two minutes for an unallowed body check.
	36:57	Amanda Kessel forces her way through the Canadian defense but can't use a back hander from just left to the net.
	36:28	A shot by Natalie Spooner from the left circle is deflected by a defender but Jessie Vetter is able to make a glove save.
	36:02	Tara Watchorn tries it from the blue line after her team won a face off inside the American third but Jessie Vetter makes the pad save!
	34:52	Both teams are back at full strength.
	34:31	USA's Gigi Marvin with a powerful shot from within the slot but she misses the net!
	32:52	Rebecca Johnston (Canada) gets two minutes for roughing and we'll see a long 4 on 4.
	32:52	Suddenly a 2-on-1 shorthanded break away for the Americans. Kelli Stack was through alone after a pass by Hilary Knight at the Canadian blue line but failed to deke out Charline Labonte from short distance! Big save by the Canadian goalie!
	32:27	Meghan Duggan (USA) gets two minutes for interference. The team captain is in the penalty box.
	32:17	Delayed penalty shown against Team USA.
	31:29	A shot by Hayley Wickenheiser from the right wing is blocked to the side with her pads by Jessie Vetter.
	30:50	A one-timer by Gillian Apps from within the slot almost goes into the right corner and below the pads of Jessie Vetter.
	29:07	A harmless distance shot is stopped via pad save by Labonte.
	28:51	The Americans rush into the Canadian zone but fail to get a shot on goal.
	27:55	Both teams with line changes to reorganize.
	25:49	Brianna Decker tips a pass from behind the net into the glove hand of Canadian goalie Charline Labonte. The game is getting a lot faster and there are many chances early in the middle period.
	25:33	On the other side of the ice Marie-Philip Poulin rushed towards the net but under pressure of the last defender had not enough time to place her shot well enough and Jessie Vetter made a glove save!
	25:15	The next opportunities for the Americans. Hilary Knight misses the left bottom corner from short distance!
	24:50	Jocelyne Lamourex's one timer from the right circle misses the net to the left just by inches! Almost the lead for Team USA!
	23:25	Nice fast combination between the Canadian offense on the left wing in the American third but Melodie Daoust's shot from the left circle is stopped by the defense.
	22:10	Amanda Kessel was through for a break away after stopping a puck at the Canadian blue line but somehow she slipped on the ice without the intervention of an opponent!
	20:43	Kelli Stack receives a pass from the blue line just right to the Canadian net but can't get a shot on goal from there!
	20:28	There's a break now because the puck went through an open door to the player benches.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		We saw high class women's hockey and many scoring chances between archrivals Canada and USA in the first period but no goals by now. Shots on goal: Canada 8 – USA 11
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:47	The Americans are back at full strength and avoided more than one or two dangerous shots on goal during the last two minutes of Canadian power play.
	19:19	Another long clearance forces Canada back into the own third.
	18:54	The Americans are able to clear the puck out of their zone and are able to make a line change.
	18:16	Canada's team captain Caroline Ouelette gets a pass from the left corner but her one-timer from the left circle is blocked to the side by Jessie Vetter!
	17:47	Brianna Decker (USA) gets two minutes for an unallowed body check.
	17:07	Kelli Stack with a solo inside the Canadian third, is stopped by Labonte after coming from the left wing.
	16:04	Hayley Wickenheiser tries to tip in a shot from the blue line but can't get the puck into the left bottom corner from short distance!
	15:09	Brianna decker twice stole the puck inside the Canadian third and gave a perfect cross-pass towards the goal crease from where a team mate just missed the net! What a chance for Team USA!
	14:07	Kacey Bellamy with a powerful slapshot from the blue line, forces Canadian goalie Labonte to a fast reaction!
	13:46	Heavy mistake in the American defense as a pass goes straight into Canadian forward Natalie Spooner who immidiately went for the goal via the left circle but when she tried to score through the five hole Jessie Vetter showed an excellent reaction and even avoided a rebound!
	12:59	After a long clerance the Canadians are back at full strength without having allowed a real scoring opportunity shorthanded.
	12:11	The US power play formation finally gets a player in shooting position but from the blue line defender Megan Bozek isn't able to place the shot well enough to surprise Charline Labonte.
	10:59	Caroline Ouellette (Canada) gets two minutes for holding. The first power play for the US now also.
	10:19	Canada's Natalie Spooner fails to controll a long pass at the opponents' blue line before she tried to steal the puck off the stick of Jessie Vetter without success.
	09:30	The game is becoming more intense and the players fight for every single puck. As the teams are better organized in defense now the chances become a bit rare.
	08:37	Tara Watchorn misses the American net with a shot from the left wing.
	07:55	On the other side of the ice a long distance shot from the right wing goes wide past the left post.
	07:22	2-on-2 counter by the Americans but they are stopped on the left circle of the Canadian third.
	06:44	Brianne Jenner deflects a shot from the right wing with her stick towards the right bottom corner but Jessie Vetter stops the shot without problems.
	06:37	Team USA is back at full strength after very efficient penalty killing.
	06:12	A pass by Hayley Wickeheiser towards the right circle is intercepted by Michelle Picard.
	05:05	Again the Americans are able to get the puck far out of their own zone.
	04:50	Long clearance by the Americans deep into the Canadian zone.
	04:37	Jocelyne Lamoureux (USA) gets two minutes for an unallowed body check. The first power play of the game goes to Team Canada.
	03:58	On the other side of the ice Brianna Jenner had a break away in which she was stopped in the 1-on-1 by Jessie Vetter!
	03:25	Kelli Stack tries to deflect a pass from the right wing towards far post but she can't give the puck the wished deflection.
	02:37	After a long pass towards the American blue line Joceylne Larocque rushed towards the net via the left circle and tried to fire the puck into the left bottom corner but Jessie Vetter made a spectacular pad save to the side! What a begin in Shayba Arena!
	01:38	Team USA keeps the pressure high in these first minutes. Jocelyne Lamoureux with a shot from within the slot forces Charline Labonte to block the puck to the side with her gloves!
	00:29	After not even half a minute Kelli Stack already has the first big, big opportunity for the Americans as she hits the upper part of the crossbar of the Canadian net with a shot from the right circle!
	00:01	Game started.
		It is "just" a group game and both already are qualified for the semifinals but Canada vs USA, especially in women's hockey, is more than just a simple hockey game. They don't even want lo lose a friendly against each other and so the atmosphere in the arena is great in anticipation of the match.
		Starting lineups: Canada: Labonte (Szabados) – Ward, Watchorn, Rougeau, Fortino, Larocque, Mikkelson – Wakefield, Apps, Daoust – Agosta, Wickenheiser, Spooner – Johnston, Hefford, Poulin – Ouellette "C", Jenner. Head coach: Kevin Dineen. USA: Vetter (McLaughlin) – Bozek, Schleper, Marvin, Bellamy, Picard, Pucci, Stecklein – Stack, Knight, Carpenter – Decker, Coyne, Kessel – M. Lamoureux, Duggan "C", J. Lamoureux – Chu, Fry. Head coach: Katey Stone. Referees: Eskola (FIN) – Novotná (CZE), Svobodová (CZE).
		As expected the two women's hockey super powers Canada and USA won both their group matches against Finland and Switzerland and earned direct entry to the semifinals of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. While both had difficult games against Finland (USA won 3-1 while Canada won 3-0 after two scoreless periods), they had an easy job against underdogs Finland (USA beat them 9-0 while Canada gained a 5-0). Both Canada and the USA are expected to make it to the finals and meet their again but this group match will give both sides a first impression of where they really stand at this point of the tournament.
		Welcome. Game starts at 07:30 ET / 13:30 CET / 16:30 MSK which is also the local time in Sochi.

Commentary by

Dennis Mende

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 43. Agosta, 44. Wickenheiser (Spooner, Agosta), 55. Agosta – 38. Knight (Carpenter, Schleper), 59. Schleper

Canada2: Labonte (Szabados) – Ward, Watchorn, Rougeau, Fortino, Larocque, Mikkelson – Wakefield, Apps, Daoust – Agosta, Wickenheiser, Spooner – Johnston, Hefford, Poulin – Ouellette "C", Jenner. Head coach: Kevin Dineen.

USA: Vetter (McLaughlin) – Bozek, Schleper, Marvin, Bellamy, Picard, Pucci, Stecklein – Stack, Knight, Carpenter – Decker, Coyne, Kessel – M. Lamoureux, Duggan "C", J. Lamoureux – Chu, Fry. Head coach: Katey Stone.

Referees: Eskola (FIN) – Novotná (CZE), Svobodová (CZE).

1st period
	04:37
	10:59
	17:47
1st intermission
2nd period
	32:27
	32:52
	36:57
	37:34
2nd intermission
3rd period
	40:53
	42:21
	43:54
	51:59
	54:55
	58:58
	59:29
Final