2018-19 National Women's Team

CANADA BLANKED IN RIVALRY SERIES OPENER

JASON LA ROSE

LONDON, Ont. – Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta./Montreal, CWHL) kept things close with a 20-save performance, but Canada’s National Women’s Team couldn’t find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss to the United States to open the Rivalry Series on Tuesday night.

The Canadians held a 33-21 advantage in shots on goal, including 12-2 in the third period, but were turned away time and time again by U.S. goaltender Alex Rigsby to kick off the three-game set.

A capacity crowd of 8,435 at Budweiser Gardens was loud from the first drop of the puck, and Canada gave its fans plenty to cheer about during an opportunity-filled first period.

Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL) and Ann-Sophie Bettez (Sept-Îles, Que./Montreal, CWHL) worked their magic early, and Blayre Turnbull (Stellarton, N.S./Calgary, CWHL) drove hard to the net for the best chance of the opening frame, but Rigsby kept it scoreless after 20 minutes.

Both teams picked up the pace in the second period, combining for 25 shots on goal (Canada had a 13-12 edge), but it was the Americans who finally struck first.

With less than two minutes to go in the middle stanza, a high point shot from Savannah Harmon found its way to Hilary Knight at the side of the net and she made no mistake, sending the U.S. to the intermission up a goal.

That would be all Rigsby would need; she was at her best in the third period to become the first goaltender to shut out Canada since the opening game of the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship, a span of 27 games.

The series continues Thursday night (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) in Toronto before heading south of the border for the finale Sunday afternoon (12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT) in Detroit.