Four Nations Cup: Canadian women open with shutout

Meghan Agosta found her scoring touch quickly after a season away from the Canadian women's hockey team.

Agosta's short-handed goal was Canada's first of the game in a 2-0 win over Finland to open the Four Nations Cup on Wednesday in Sweden.

The three-time Olympian from Ruthven, Ont., didn't play for Canada last winter because she was in police academy in Vancouver.

"To be able to be back and put on the Team Canada jersey again and play in the Four Nations Cup, I don't take anything for granted," Agosta said from Sundsvall, Sweden.

"It's tough to take a year off and come back, but I'm so excited to be here and be part of something that is so special every time."

Toronto's Natalie Spooner scored even-strength with both Canadian goals produced in the second period. Emerance Maschmeyer posted a 17-save shutout for the win.

Finland went with veteran goaltender Noora Raty, who made 24 saves in the loss.

Canada takes on world champion United States on Thursday and host Sweden on Saturday. The top two countries after the preliminary round advance to Sunday's championship game.

Canada is attempting to defend its Four Nations title, having beaten the Americans 3-2 in a shootout in last year's final in Kamloops, B.C.

Finland was once content to just defend their own end and hope for a power-play goal against Canada, but since the 2014 Winter Olympics, the Finns now engage Canada in all three zones of the ice.

"They're a tough opponent to play against because they're extremely disciplined and extremely hard-working," Canadian coach Laura Schuler said. "Finland did an excellent job of blocking shots. We didn't get as many shots as we wanted to get through.

"In recent years, they've added some more talent to their team and thus can produce more offensively. With them, it's tough to get through the neutral zone.

"Every team presents a different challenge and for us it was learning about having some poise and composure on our breakouts and through the neutral zone. I thought we did a pretty good job of that."

Maschmeyer and Erica Howe of Orleans, Ont., had fewer than five career starts for the national team between them when they were named to the Four Nations roster.

Maschmeyer wasn't as busy at Raty, but Schuler said the Canadian goalie made saves in traffic and didn't give up rebounds, as well as stopping a Finland breakaways on a turnover.

Schuler wasn't ready to reveal her starting goaltender for Thursday until she informed her choice prior to Thursday's pre-game skate.

Five players — Renata Fast, Sarah Edney, Sarah Lefort, Sarah Nurse, Sarah Potomak — made their national-team debuts Wednesday. The Americans will force Canada to play a faster-paced, end-to-end game Thursday.

"I tell the young girls 'you play against these girls in (NCAA) Division 1 hockey. It's the same thing,"' Agosta said. "We just need to be poised and go out there and play Canadian hockey working hard every single shift and winning battles all over the ice from start to finish."