It was a game to remember as Canada secured their 100th win over the United States on Monday night at the CAA Arena in Brampton, securing the top spot in Group A at the IIHF Women’s Worlds in a 4-3 win shootout win.
Jamie Lee Rattray scored in the ninth round of the shootout to clinch the win for Canada.
“I think I blacked out that whole time,” said Rattray to TSN’s Julia Toucheri in her post-game interview. “ As soon as I touched the puck it got really loud, and it was a lot of fun and what a hockey game and what a win and I am really proud of the group.”.
Canadian goaltender Anne-Renée Desbiens got the start in goal on her birthday, no less, and was one of the key factors why the Canadians came out on top and made 26 saves in the win.
“We made it interesting at the end,” Desbiens said in her postgame interview with TSN’s Julia Toucheri. “Ratty scored a big goal in the shootout, and we got the win, so happy to finish first in Group A,” she added.
A Night To Remember
The game went back and forth all night as the rivalry between these two proud nations intensified, and it was actually the Americans who opened the scoring halfway through the first period when Hannah Bilka on the powerplay, beat Desbiens with a shot that went top shelf.
That was the first time Canada trailed in the tournament, but the lead didn’t last long as the home side responded four minutes later when Sarah Fillier made an incredible move getting between two American defenders and scoring five-hole on Aerin Frankel.
Marie-Phillip Poulin gave the host the lead less than five minutes into the second period this time with Canada on the powerplay as she fired a one-timer from the top of the circle to make it 2-1.
With 2:27 left in regulation, the United States pulled Frankel, but Laura Stacey made it 3-1, scoring into an empty net in a goal that should have sealed the win for Canada but didn’t.
What happened next was pure chaos and drama as the Americans got within one when Hilary Knight scored, but as she scored, the clock went out, and Canada head coach Troy Ryan challenged for a potential offside.
After a long review, it was deemed a good goal, and with 39 seconds left on the clock, the Americans pressed, looking for the equalizer, and with 3.4 seconds on the clock, Amanda Kessel tied the game in dramatic fashion.
Extra Hockey
Three-on-three overtime solved nothing, and the game went into a shootout to decide the winner.
Brianne Jenner and Hilary Knight scored on their opening attempts, and then 15 skaters went either being denied or missing the net before Rattray sealed the deal in the ninth round.
Canada will face the third-place finisher in Group B on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
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