Team USA came, saw, and won. Even though Finland put up a fight, the Americas' win was ever in doubt. Team captain Bella Fanale scored twice for Team USA in the 5-0 effort while goaltender Morgan Stickney made seven saves to stretch her shutout streak to full 180 minutes, a new under-18 Women¨s World Championship record.
Kerttu Kuja-Halkola made 54 saves for Finland.
One thing Team USA can count on is that every single opponent will get up for the game against them. Finland was no exception. Team Finland coach Mira Kuisma had emphasized the importance of team defense in front of Kuja-Halkola, and the game plan worked almost perfectly in the first period.
The Americans did get a powerplay opportunity halfway through the period, though, and they grabbed it with both hands. Mary Derrenbacher fired a wrist shot from the point, Kuja-Halkola made the initial save but Bella Fanale was the first one at the rebound. Kuja-Halkola managed to stop her shot as well, but not Evelyn Doyle’s attempt at the second rebound and Team USA took the lead at 8.52,
In the second period, USA outshot Finland 21-2, and even Kuja-Halkola couldn’t stop the American onslaught.
Just 6.11 into the period, Ella Johnson’s one-timer odd Christina Scalesi’s beautiful feed slipped through Kuja-Halkola’s five-hole for 2-0 and five minutes – and one killed penalty – later, Sloane Hartmetz’s sneaky spinorama shot surprised Kuja-Halkola through some traffic.
Team USA made it 4-0 just eight seconds before the end of the period. Fanale and Jane Daley set the table for Kylie Amelkovich who was all by herself in front of the Finnish net and could beat Kuja-Halkola from close range.
With seven minutes remaining in the period, Fanale fired a shot from the left faceoff circle, Kuja-Halkola made a save with her blocker, but Fanale beat the Finnish defense to the rebound and roofed the puck to give her team a 5-0 lead in the game.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Rss News…