Team Canada is off to a great start in the women’s hockey competition of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. On Sunday, Team Canada defeated the Olympic Athletes from Russia by a score of 5-0 in their opening game of the tournament.
The first period was dominated by Canada, as they outshot the Olympic Athletes from Russia 15-5. However, they were unable to get the puck past Olympic Athletes from Russia goaltender Nadezhda Morozova.
Then in the second period, Canada only outshot the Olympic Athletes from Russia 9-7, but were much more opportunistic with their shot production. Team Canada got goals from Rebecca Johnston of Sudbury, Ontario, Haley Irwin of Thunder Bay, Ontario and Melodie Daoust of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
Then in the third period, Team Canada went up 5-0 on a second goal from Johnston and another from Daoust. Johnston and captain Marie-Philip Poulin of Quebec City, Quebec led Canada in scoring with three points each. Johnston had two goals and one assist, while Poulin had three assists.
It was also a strong game for Canadian goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens of La Malbaie, Quebec. The former star of the University of Wisconsin Badgers made 18 saves for the shutout.
Team Canada next plays Finland at 12:40 am MT. Do not forget that Finland beat Canada in preliminary round action at the 2017 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Plymouth, Michigan by a score of 4-3. Finland meanwhile is 0-1 after a 3-1 loss to the United States.
