Poulin lifts Canada over U.S. in shootout to snap Rivalry Series losing streak
Serdachny, Shelton score in 3rd period as Canadians storm back in Sarnia, Ont.
Marie-Philip Poulin scored in a shootout as Canada finally got into the win column in the women's hockey Rivalry Series with a 3-2 victory over the United States on Saturday at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, Ont.
The U.S. jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Megan Keller scored a short-handed goal at 8:19 of the second period. The U.S. went ahead 2-0 when Alex Carpenter scored at 4:46 of the third period.
Danielle Serdachny got one back for Canada with a goal at 10:06, and Ella Shelton scored to tie the game at 12:39.
In overtime, Abbey Murphy of the U.S. (unsportsmanlike conduct) and Poulin (roughing) were both sent off for minor penalties as both teams pushed for the winner.
WATCH l Canada edges U.S. in shootout:
Canada outshot the U.S. 26-24, and went 0-for-5 on the power play. The U.S. went 0-for-2 on the power play.
"Our team had a nice response tonight. We have to give a lot of credit to Ann-Renée (goalie Desbiens) because she kept us in the game and gave us a chance to come back," said Canadian coach Troy Ryan.
Desbiens said it was a "team win" and that her teammates showed plenty of character.
"This team has a lot of character and we showed that today. It would have been easy to give up when we were down by two and down 3-0 in the series, but it was important for us to get a win in front of Canadian fans," said Desbiens.
The U.S. won the first game of the series 3-1 in Tempe, Ariz., took the second 5-2 in Los Angeles and won the third, played in Kitchener, Ont., on Thursday, 3-2.
"The game [Saturday] was such a back-and-forth contest," U.S. coach John Wroblewski said. "It was a physical contest and a classic U.S.-Canada game."
Game 5 of the Rivalry Series is set for Feb. 7 in Saskatoon.
