Key events
Let’s get back to this note about the officials …
Most of the game officials in the world championships are from the USA and Canada. That’s not a surprise.
But the IIHF had four options for referees and five options for linespersons who were not from either country. Instead, we have a mixed duo as referees (USA’s Kelly Cooke, Canada’s Cianna Lieffers) and two Canadian linespeople.
I referee youth soccer games, and I studiously avoid taking travel soccer games involving my hometown club, just to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. Is it really impossible to do this at the world championship level?
It hasn’t been an issue thus far in a cleanly played first period, but these games can often turn on one play.
We get an interview with the USA’s Tessa Janecke, whose answers are nearly drowned out by fans chanting, “GO CANADA GO!” The reporter asks her what it’s like to have the fans on her side. Um …
Canada 0-0 USA, end 1st period
Sarah Fillier has one of the best shots of the period with about 10 seconds left, but Frankel is alert.
Neither goaltender has had to do anything spectacular so far, but they’ve both been solid when needed.
The US offense should seriously consider some tweaking at the intermission.
Canada 0-0 USA, 1:32 left, 1st period: We’ve hit a lull, which means my next update will surely be a goal.
Canada 0-0 USA, 3:04 left, 1st period: The US forwards just seem too tentative here. They’re not getting into good spots near the goal, leaving the blueliners to float around looking for a path to blast through.
Supposedly, the USA have had three shots in the last two minutes, but I can’t remember any of them.
Grace Zumwinkle finds herself perfectly positioned to corral a loose puck deep inside the Canadian zone, but she fumbles it. That’s the game in a nutshell so far.
Canada 0-0 USA, 5:08 left, 1st period: Long possession for the USA, but they really can’t advance far beyond the blue line, and it’s a somewhat harmless shot in the end.
It’s an 11-5 shot advantage for Canada. That’s a little deceptive. Canada isn’t doing twice as well. Maybe 1.2 times as well.
Canada 0-0 USA, 6:54 left, 1st period: While play is stopped, we get a closeup of US captain Hilary Knight. She has a nasty black eye, apparently from a fall in the semifinal. Not sure what good her face mask did there.
Canada’s forecheck is revving up, and it forces a turnover that leaves Poulin in place for a close-range shot.
Canada 0-0 USA, 8:26 left, 1st period: Oh my, Canada should’ve done better with that. Two forwards race down the ice with a lone US defender between them, but the pass is easily broken up.
The Canadians (not Canadiens) maintain the initiative, and Frankel snags the puck out of the air.
USA starting to play with fire here.
Canada 0-0 USA, 10:00 left, 1st period: Watts tries to make the most of her disciplinary reprieve after her semifinal fracas, holding the puck and gliding to set up a solid shot.
At the other end, it’s 1-on-1 – USA’s Tessa Janecke vs. Desbiens – but the Canadian goalie slams the 5-hole shut. (For those not up on hockey lingo – that’s the space between the legs. Good place to shoot if the goalie isn’t positioned well, but Desbiens was positioned well.
Halfway through the period …
Canada 0-0 USA, 12:00 left, 1st period: According to the NHL Network graphics crew, Pannek is on the USA’s third line with Kendall Coyne Schofield and Abbey Murphy on the wings. But this looks like the most dangerous line at the moment. Murphy comes close to connecting with Coyne Schofield, but Canada break up the play.
Still only three shots for the USA, and it’s been a while since one was recorded, but they’ve been active.
As I type, Poulin gets space on the left and zings a shot to Frankel’s glove side. After the whistle blows, Poulin has a few words for a US player. Not sure which language she chose. The issue appears to be that Canada’s Laura Stacey wanted to skate straight into Frankel, and a US player decided not to let her do that.
Canada 0-0 USA, 14:25 left, 1st period: It’s all Canada at the moment. They’ve taken the shots lead 6-3. So far, nothing has troubled Frankel too much, but “let them shoot a lot” is never a good game plan.
Social media alert: USA Hockey and Hockey Canada are both on BlueSky, but neither organization has posted. That’s no fun.
Hockey Canada paid tribute to their record-setting goalie on Instagram.
Canada 0-0 USA, 16:00 left, 1st period: CHANCE for Pannek in transition, spurred along by Caroline Harvey. Pannek can’t quite get the shot away at point-blank range.
Canada 0-0 USA, 16:45 left, 1st period: More time in the USA’s attacking third, but Canada’s defense (defence?) aren’t giving up any chances.
Canada finally get into the attack and look dangerous right away, ripping a couple of shots at Frankel before the US goalie can smother it.
Canada 0-0 USA, 18:45 left, 1st period: The team in blue (hint: not Canada) takes charge at the outset, forcing an icing call, winning the faceoff and forcing Desbiens to hold on for save. The USA again win the faceoff and force another Desbien save.
Goaltending matchup
Canada has been alternating goalies, but there’s not surprise today – it’s the veteran Ann-Renee Desbiens, who leads the PWHL in wins, save percentage and goals against.
For the USA, it’s Aerin Frankel, who’s second in the league in wins and save percentage.
For some reason, three officials are from Canada and one is from the USA.
And we’re off!
At last! It’s time for … the pregame show.
Update: Finland rallied from 3-0 down to beat Czechia 4-3 in overtime to win bronze.
Meet Team USA
Yes, the USA beat Canada, but they’re coming into the final with a little less momentum than their rivals after squeaking past Czechia by a 2-1 score in the semifinals. The host country actually led 1-0 after the first period, and the USA didn’t take the lead until the 48:26 mark on a goal by Kelly Pannek.
Czechia only managed 11 shots to the USA’s 45, but goaltender Klara Peslarova turned aside 43 shots to keep it close.
Aside from that and the 2-1 win over Canada, the USA’s wins have been comfortable – 7-1 over Finland, 4-0 over Czechia, 5-0 over Switzerland and 3-0 over Germany.
Like Canada, the USA have shown a balanced attack. The only player with more than two goals is Pannek, who has four. Hilary Knight, who leads the PWHL in points, has six assists to hold the team lead.
Knight will leave Czechia with her 15th world championship medal, and this team has experience to spare. Only two players, one of them third-string goaltender Ava McNaughton, are in their first world championship.
Meet Team Canada
These teams met in group play, and the USA took a 2-1 win. That was the only time Canada was challenged in the slightest. They opened with shutouts over Finland (5-0) and Switzerland (4-0) before losing to the USA, then blasted a very good Czech team (7-1) to wrap up group play. They took out Japan (9-1) and Finland (8-1) to get back to another rematch against their neighbors.
They’ve accomplished this by spreading the puck around – 17 players have scored. Jennifer Gardiner is the top goal-scorer in the tournament with five, and Marie-Philip Poulin has four goals and seven assists. Only one skater has failed to register a goal or assist.
Daryl Watts has been cleared to play after receiving a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for a hit late in the semifinal win over Finland.
While 18 players return from last year’s squad, Gardiner and Watts are playing in their first world championships.
Poulin leads the PWHL in goals. Renata Fast holds the assist lead.
Best rivalry in sports?
When you think of top rivalries, you may think of the Bears and Packers. Maybe the Bulls and Knicks back in the day. Duke and North Carolina. Michigan and Ohio State. Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.
Why does the USA-Canada rivalry in women’s ice hockey have a claim to the best of them all?
Simple.
They’re always in the final.
The Olympics have had seven women’s hockey tournaments. The USA and Canada have faced off in the final six times. (Canada has won four of those and took the gold when the USA settled for bronze in 2006.)
Women’s hockey has had 23 world championships. The USA and Canada have played each other in the final 22 times. (Today makes it 23 of 24. Canada holds the edge, 13-9, and the USA won a 10th when Canada missed the final in 2019.)
These teams have immense respect for each other, and the players are working together to establish pro women’s hockey at a serious level. But these games can get rather chippy as well.
Best rivalry in sports? It’s certainly in the running.
(And yes, political intrigue adds a new wrinkle this year, but this game is in Czechia, so the vitriol in the stands should be minimal.)
Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s the report off Saturday’s semi-finals.
