2017-18 National Women's Team

COMEBACK KIDS PULL OFF CANADIAN WIN

JEMMA YOUNG

CALGARY, Alta. – Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.) found the back of the net twice as Canada’s National Women’s Team found its rhythm in the third period, scoring four unanswered goals to overcome the Calgary Buffaloes 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL) and Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont./Linköping HC, SWE) also had goals in the decisive third period, while Brianne Jenner added three assists.

Despite evenly matched end-to-end action in the first period, Canada struggled to find its offensive footing, registering only five shots on goal in the first 20 minutes.

The Buffaloes directed 12 at Canadian netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) and took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Ryan Shostak at 12:21.

Canada upped its offence in the middle stanza, firing 11 shots at Garin Bjorklund, but continued to struggle to find the back of the net. The Buffaloes had no such trouble, getting unassisted markers from Sam Anderson and Michael Makarenko for a 3-0 advantage through 40 minutes.

Poulin potted a power-play goal at 3:47 of the third period, sparking the Canadian offence.

Agosta roofed a backhand less than two minutes later to make it a one-goal game, and Wakefield finished a feed from Renata Fast (Burlington, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) just 39 seconds after that to bring the Canadians even.

The veteran line of Agosta, Jenner and Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) combined on the game-winner at 10:25 and Desbiens did the rest, finishing with 30 saves to record the victory.

Canada is right back to Esso Series action on Thursday night (7 p.m. MT), welcoming the Lethbridge Hurricanes to the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park.