Four Nations Cup: Canada advances to final against U.S.

Canada bounced back from a shutout loss to the United States at the Four Nations Cup with a 3-1 victory over hometown Sweden to clinch a berth in Sunday's championship.

Forward Natalie Spooner led the Canadian women's attack with the winning goal and an assist in Sundsvall on Saturday.

Jennifer Wakefield and captain Marie-Philip Poulin also scored for Canada, which finished second in preliminary-round play at the four-team tournament.

The 2-1 Canadians will meet the first-place Americans in Sunday's championship at 8:30 a.m. ET.

I think we need to look at the positives going into [Sunday] and know that when we're playing our game we can be a really good team and have those chances and hopefully bury them.- Canadian forward Natalie Spooner

The U.S., which finished the preliminary round at 3-0 following Saturday's 7-0 victory over Finland, blanked the Canadians 3-0 on Thursday on the strength of Jessie Vetter's 31-save performance.

"That game we had times when we played really well, and we dominated the play," Spooner said of the team's loss to the U.S. "So I think we need to look at the positives going into [Sunday] and know that when we're playing our game we can be a really good team and have those chances and hopefully bury them.

"It's going to be a good game either way. Always is when we play the U.S."

Canada defeated its longtime rival 3-2 in last year's Four Nations Cup final but the Americans are the reigning world champions.

Since the 4 Nations Cup debut in 1996, Canada has won 14 times and earned five silver medals.

Emerance Maschmeyer, who made 27 saves against the U.S. on Thursday, turned aside 11 of 12 shot versus Sweden.

Canada outshot its opponent 33-12, including 14-1 in the second period.

Emotional day

It was an emotional day for 23-year-old goalie Erica Howe of Orleans, Ont., who made her first start in an international tournament, seven years to the day her dad Peter died of cancer.

"Kind of bittersweet," said Howe, who made 11 saves. "[Friday] night they told me I was going to get the start and it just kind of had an extra special meaning, texting my mom and letting her know. I was definitely thinking of him today, and just thinking how proud he would be of me."

Howe said the Canadians' communication has improved through the preliminary round.

"Now, being later in the tournament, our lines are clicking a little better … we don't have to work so hard to get pass to pass. You know where your teammates are going to be, and we're getting a lot better at our systems, so it makes it a lot easier to play the game," she said.

"Sweden is a great opponent so we had to work hard to get around them and get shots in. But when you get the chemistry with each other, it makes it a little easier."