(Herning, Denmark) Ann-Renée Desbiens became the first Canadian goaltender to face and save a penalty shot at the World Women’s Hockey Championship in a 4-1 victory over Finland in the tournament opener on Thursday.
Posted at 5:13 p.m.
Updated at 5:17 p.m.
The Clermont, Que., native preserved Canada’s 2-1 lead by stopping Kira Yrjnanen’s attempt late in the first period.
“It was huge,” said fullback Meaghan Mikkelson. As soon as the penalty shot was called, I turned to Jocelyne Larocque and said she was going to make the save. She loves this type of moment. »
Marie-Philip Poulin and Sarah Nurse each had a goal and an assist for Canada, defending champions of the event following their triumph in Calgary last summer.
Mikkelson and Blayre Turnbull, in an empty net, also scored at Kvik Hockey Arena in Herning, Denmark. Desbiens stopped 16 shots, including the penalty shot at a key moment.
Desbiens repelled Yrjanen’s throw with his right pad after a nice feint from the Finn.
“It was a move you rarely see in a game. Probably something you see more often in practice, Desbiens said. I stayed patient to be ready, whether she was going to shoot from the backhand or bring the puck on the other side. »
Canada will face Switzerland on Saturday and Japan on Sunday. Japan lost 10-0 to the United States on Thursday.
In Group B, Hungary beat Germany 4-2 and Sweden beat Denmark 5-2.
Julia Likala scored the only goal for Finland, bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympics last February and at the last World Cup in Calgary last summer. Anni Keisala made 39 saves.
“We’re not really happy with the way we played,” said Canada’s head coach, Troy Ryan. Our first period was not very good. The second was acceptable and the third, probably between the first and the second. But that was only the first match of the tournament. »
The Finns were 1-for-5 on the power play, but were unable to take advantage of four consecutive minutes with an extra player — including ten seconds at five on three — late in the second period and early in the second period. third.
Mikkelson capitalized on a comeback after a shot from Ella Shelton to make it 3-1 for Canada 13:01 into the second period.
The 37-year-old full-back is back with the national team after knee surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation that left her out of the Olympics last winter.
Poulin scored with a good wrist shot at 15:51 to give Canada a 2-1 lead.
Likala had tied the game at 12:07 of the first period, taking advantage of a late comeback on the power play.
Five minutes into the game, forward Petra Nieminen was assessed a major and a game misconduct for a check from behind against Kristin O’Neill.
Nurse scored on the power play at 7:38, redirecting a pass from Poulin into the goal.
Finland upset Canada 4-2 in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, before losing in a penalty shootout to the United States in the final. Canada have since won all five of their games against Finland.