As expected, Team USA made short work of Japan in their first game of the World Women’s Hockey Championship, winning 10-0 on Thursday in Herning, Denmark.
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Silver medalists at the 2022 Olympics, the winners showed no mercy for their rivals, scoring four goals in the opening period and five more in the next round. Alex Carpenter scored twice and added an assist, while Taylor Heise grabbed the attention with five goals. Despite the magnitude of the victory of hers, the star player Hilary Knight was held in check.
While her opponents Miyuu Masuhara and Akane Konishi faced a barrage of 62 shots, goaltender Nicole Hensley had to stop six small shots.
The Americans have an appointment with Finland on Saturday. Then, they will face Switzerland on Monday, before crossing swords with the Canadians the next day to conclude the preliminary phase of the tournament.