LAVAL, Que.
Blayre Turnbull led all scorers with two goals and Canada used a four-goal second period to win 5-0 over the United States and clinch the Rivalry Series.
Ella Shelton, Marie-Philippe Poulin and Victoria Bach added other players for Canada, who won four in a row on Wednesday to take the series 4-3.
Laura Stacy had 3 assists and Anne Renee Desbiens had a shutout of 25 saves.
“I’m really proud of everyone in this room and every girl who has had a role in one of these games,” Turnbull said.
“It’s tough, but if there’s a group that can do that, I think it’s us. Getting the win will help us build momentum and hopefully when we head to Brampton[for the World Championship]. It’s a great way to keep it.”
Nicole Hensley gave up three goals on eight shots before Maddie Rooney entered the game in her place. Rooney saved America by stopping 8 of 10 shots in 29 minutes.
The Canadian had a 5-1 victory at Trois-Rivieres in Couet on Monday.
Canada dropped its first three contests in November after winning 3-1-1 against the Americans in last season’s rival series, which was cut short by the pandemic.
“I think coming back after losing the first three games says a lot about the character and heart we have in the room,” Stacey said. “I knew I was in a tough situation, I knew I wasn’t doing my best, but I was going to do whatever I could to change that.
“Instead of focusing on the result, we focused on the game at hand and put in the work and it worked in our favor.”
Shelton opened the scoring in the opening frame at 17:02 when Stacy sent a centering pass to Emily Clarke who was stopped. However, Shelton crashed and despite scrambling in front, he pushed the puck into the net.
Pauline started a dominant yet effective second period for Canada who scored four goals on just seven shots.
The captain doubled Canada’s lead at 3:41, taking a pass from Jamie Lee Rattray and defeating Hensley with a wrist shot.
On the power play, Stacey’s shot from the left faceoff circle was chipped in by Turnbull at 10:26.
Thirty-two seconds later, Stacey found Turnbull on a centering pass, who scored on a one-timer between the two American defenders to make the game 4–0.
Bach was in the action within two minutes. Gilles Saulnier flicked Bach with a breakaway, and she beat Rooney with a backhand shot.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published on February 22, 2023.
