2016-17 National Women's Team

2016 NWT December Series
Game #1
Ex/Hc
Final
December 17, 2016 4:30 pm EST
USA Hockey Arena
Plymouth, Mich.

Scoring

Teams
1st
2nd
3rd
Final
Teams
1
2
3
F
2
1
0
3
1
1
3
5

Shots on Goal

1st
2nd
3rd
Final
1
2
3
F
15
10
12
37
5
7
11
23

Statistics

PP
PIM
2 / 10
8
1 / 4
20

Game Story

JOHNSTON LEADS WAY FOR CANADA IN GAME 1 WIN

WENDY GRAVES

PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) scored a hat trick as Canada’s National Women’s Team erased a two-goal deficit to defeat the United States 5-3 in Game 1 of the December Series.

Jillian Saulnier (Halifax, N.S./Calgary, CWHL) and Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) also scored in the win.

Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) added two assists.

Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta./Fort Saskatchewan, CHL) made 32 saves in picking up the win in relief. Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) started in net for Canada, but was forced out of the crease only nine minutes into the game with an injury.

Canada trailed 3-2 after the second period, but two goals in 58 seconds to open the third turned the game in its favour.

Johnston put in a rebound at the side of the net 1:02 into the period, and Spooner scored with a wraparound at the two-minute mark.

If yet another Canadian comeback was one storyline, then the other was penalties. The teams were whistled for a combined 14 minors: 10 to the Canadians, four to the Americans.

Canada converted on its first power play chance, less than seven minutes into the game.

Halli Krzyzaniak (Neepawa, Man./University of North Dakota, WCHA) controlled the puck behind her own net and sent a pass up along the boards. Johnston skated in on a partial break and scored five-hole.

Canada was then called for six straight penalties in the first, and the U.S. made it pay twice. Hilary Knight scored with a shot from just inside the point to tie the game. The U.S. then took the lead late in the period when Brianna Decker was left alone at the side of the net to put in a rebound.

The U.S. lead grew to two 5:20 into the second; Decker scored her second goal of the game, this one with a one-timer from the slot.

Saulnier started the comeback four minutes later. She picked the puck off in the left circle and went high glove side for the unassisted goal.

The United States fired 12 more shots on net in the final period, and had two more power play opportunities, but couldn’t tie the game.

Johnston completed her hat trick with an empty-net goal late in the third.

The United States outshot Canada 37-22. Alex Rigsby took the loss in net.

The Series now shifts to Sarnia, Ont., for Game 2 (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT). The teams will return to Plymouth at the end of March for the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

Play by Play

Team
Description
Time
1st Period
PENALTY
Penalty: Kelli Stack
Cross-Checking (2:00)
06:04
GOAL (POWER PLAY)
Goal: Rebecca Johnston

Assists: Erin Ambrose, Halli Krzyzaniak
06:37
PENALTY
Penalty: Meaghan Mikkelson
Interference (2:00)
08:04
GOALTENDER CHANGE
Goaltender Change: Shannon Szabados

08:55
PENALTY
Penalty: Blayre Turnbull
Slashing (2:00)
09:53
GOAL (POWER PLAY)
Goal: Hilary Knight

Assists: Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson
11:29
PENALTY
Penalty: Jennifer Wakefield
Too Many Players (2:00)
12:37
PENALTY
Penalty: Halli Krzyzaniak
Falling on Puck (2:00)
14:52
PENALTY
Penalty: Jennifer Wakefield
Cross-Checking (2:00)
15:18
PENALTY
Penalty: Jocelyne Larocque
Hooking (2:00)
16:28
GOAL (POWER PLAY)
Goal: Brianna Decker

Assists: Hilary Knight, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson
17:23
PENALTY
Penalty: Megan Keller
Interference (2:00)
18:54
2nd Period
GOAL
Goal: Brianna Decker

Assists: Hilary Knight, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson
05:20
PENALTY
Penalty: Marie-Philip Poulin
Cross-Checking (2:00)
07:22
GOAL
Goal: Jill Saulnier

09:52
PENALTY
Penalty: Lauriane Rougeau
Hooking (2:00)
12:40
PENALTY
Penalty: Dana Trivigno
Interference (2:00)
18:57
3rd Period
GOAL
Goal: Rebecca Johnston

Assists: Jennifer Wakefield, Brianne Jenner
01:02
GOAL
Goal: Natalie Spooner

Assists: Meaghan Mikkelson, Marie-Philip Poulin
02:00
PENALTY
Penalty: Jill Saulnier
Hooking (2:00)
12:36
PENALTY
Penalty: Jocelyne Larocque
Body-Checking (2:00)
13:40
GOAL (EMPTY NET)
Goal: Rebecca Johnston

Assists: Brianne Jenner
19:27
PENALTY
Penalty: Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson
Roughing (2:00)
19:48

Goaltenders

Name Team Mins Shots Saves GAA SAV%
Alex Rigsby USA 59 22 18 4 0.818
Shannon Szabados CAN 51 35 32 3 0.914
Ann-Renée Desbiens CAN 8 2 2 0 1.000

Game Leaders

Goals 1 - Assists 2 - Points 3
G 1 - A 2 - P 3
GA 3 - SV - 32 - SAV% - 0.914
Goals 0 - Assists 3 - Points 3
G 0 - A 3 - P 3
Goals 3 - Assists 0 - Points 3
G 3 - A 0 - P 3
Goals 2 - Assists 0 - Points 2
G 2 - A 0 - P 2
Goals 0 - Assists 2 - Points 2
G 0 - A 2 - P 2

Previous Games

2 - 3 L @ CanadaCAN
Dec 19, 2016
3 - 2 W v United StatesUSA
Dec 19, 2016
3 - 5 L @ CanadaCAN
Dec 17, 2016
5 - 3 W v United StatesUSA
Dec 17, 2016
Videos
Photos
2016 WJAC: USA 4 – CAN-E 0 (Gold Medal)
Primeau made 14 saves, backstopping the Americans to a gold medal.
2016 WJAC - WJAC: CAN-W 5 – SUI 3 (5th Place)
Kawaguchi had a goal and three assists to help West to fifth place.
2016 WJAC - RUS 6 – CZE 3 (Bronze Medal)
Svechnikov scored a hat trick to lead Russia to its fourth bronze.
2016 WJAC: USA 4 – RUS 2 (Semifinal)
The U.S. scored three PP goals to advance to the gold medal game.
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Credit