Canada falls to U.S. in yet another OT finish between rivals at women's hockey worlds
Kirsten Simms extra-frame marker helps Americans clinch top spot in group
Kirsten Simms scored the biggest goal of her career in what she said was the fastest and most physical game she's ever played in.
Simms' overtime goal for the United States broke a scoreless deadlock in a 1-0 win over archrival Canada at the women's world hockey championship Monday.
The U.S. stayed unbeaten after four straight wins, clinched the top seed in its group and handed Canada its first loss of the tournament.
"Super-surreal moment," Simms said. "Still haven't totally processed it at all.
"Any time we go against Canada, it's going to be an intense game. Just how quick that puck moves up and down the ice and how you have to be kind of on the full 60 minutes is huge, but super-fun to play in."
WATCH | Simms leads U.S. past Canada:
Canada (3-0-1-0) will face Sweden (3-0-0-1) on Thursday in the only quarterfinal matchup determined Monday.
The top five teams in Group A and top three in Group B are quarterfinalists. The semifinals are Saturday and medal games Sunday.
Defending champion U.S. awaited the results of Tuesday's games, which would determine the third seed in Group B. Germany (3-0-0-0) was also assured a quarterfinal berth atop Group B.
Canadian forward Brianne Jenner tripped and fell down in the offensive-zone corner, giving the Americans an odd-man rush in three-on-three overtime.
Simms scored on a screened shot between Ann-Renée Desbiens' pads at 3:38 of OT in front of a jubilant sellout of 4,017 at the Adirondack Bank Center.
Defensive battle
American goalie Aerin Frankel posted a 26-save shutout.
"For a one-nothing game, it was pretty incredible," U.S. captain Hilary Knight said. "It's the fastest game you'll ever see, U.S. versus Canada."
Canada wasted a stellar outing by goaltender Desbiens, who repelled 29 shots and weathered several storms, including five shots in overtime before she was beaten by Simms.
"She's unbelievable," Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin said. "She kept us in the game. Very happy for her and too bad I screened her on that last shot and I'm not happy with that.
Canada killed off a pair of penalties midway through the second period and went 0-for-3 on the power-play, including a chance with four minutes remaining in regulation.
"I didn't like our offence," Canadian head coach Troy Ryan said. "We did a good job in the second period starting to turn pucks over and we looked to transition, but we didn't make plays.
"When we're not playing our best offensively, we're just trying to score off the rush. That's more of how the U.S. plays than what we would play. We're much better if we're driving their defence back and getting some offensive zone possession time."
'Classic Canada-U.S.'
The tone of Monday's game was set nine seconds after the opening faceoff when Canadian defender Renata Fast sent U.S. forward Kendall Coyne flying into the corner boards.
The game continued at a cracking, walloping pace the archrivals can produce in women's hockey.
"It was classic Canada-U.S.," Desbiens said. "The refs let us play five-on-five. It's the two best teams in the world, so you want to see that. A little more physical than we've seen in the past few games, but it was fun to be part of."
Canada fought back from a three-game deficit to win four in a row and take this winter's Rivalry Series between the two countries.
"It means a lot more to beat them than any other opponent," Frankel said.
China (0-1-1-1), Denmark (0-1-0-2) and Japan (0-0-1-2) chased the third and final quarterfinal berth in Group B. Germany plays China, with the Danes meeting the Japanese on Tuesday.
Third to fifth in Group A was also still to be determined between Czechia (1-0-0-2), Finland (1-0-0-3) and Switzerland winless in three games. The Czechs meet the Swiss on Tuesday.
Germany blanks Sweden
Meanwhile, Sandra Abstreiter stopped 32 shots to lead Germany past Sweden 1-0 and cement top spot in Group B.
Abstreiter was a pivotal figure for Germany (3-0-0) as Franziska Feldmeier didn't score the game's first — and only — goal until midway through the third period. Abstreiter earned her second career world championship shutout while leading her team to its first-ever shutout of Sweden (3-1-0), which came into the game having scored 17 goals.
Swedish goalie Emma Soderberg stopped 23 shots.
In another game, Finland dispatched Switzerland 5-2.
Jenni Hiirikoski had a goal and three assists to lead the way for Finland (1-3-0). Lara Stalder and Sinja Leemann replied for Switzerland (0-3-0).
