2017-18 National Women's Team

CANADA COMES BACK TO EDGE OILERS

JEMMA YOUNG

CALGARY, Alta. – Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont./Markham, CWHL) got the game-winner with 9:31 to go, and Canada’s National Women’s Team erased a third-period deficit to earn a 4-3 Esso Series win over the Okotoks Oilers on Thursday night.

Canada outshot Okotoks 13-4 in the first period but the Oilers scored the lone goal of the opening frame, with Nathan Bailer capitalizing on the power play at 15:52.

Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) responded for Canada just over two minutes into the second period, scoring with the man advantage off a Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.) feed, but Okotoks reclaimed the lead on a Jaevon Buschlen goal just 39 seconds later.

The teams went back and forth in the second until a body-checking penalty put Canada back on the power play and Agosta pulled the red-and-white even before the clock reached 40 minutes.

Okotoks retook the lead when Alaister Standen beat Canadian goaltender Genevieve Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) just 2:09 into the third period, but Jill Saulnier (Halifax, N.S./Calgary, CWHL) tied it three minutes later.

Stacey gave Canada its first lead midway through the final stanza, with Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./University of Minnesota, WCHA) and Emily Clark (Saskatoon, Sask./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) earning assists on the winner.

Canada finished with a 39-21 advantage in shots on goal.

The pre-Olympic schedule continues with two games against the United States – Dec. 3 in St. Paul, Minn., and Dec. 5 in Winnipeg, Man. – before Canada returns to Esso Series action on the road against the Lloydminster Bobcats on Dec. 8.