Game Three of the Rivalry Series between the United States and Canada took place Monday night in Victoria, British Columbia. Just like with the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championships, Canada got the game-winning goal from an unsung hero. Victoria Bach scored the game-winner in overtime to lift Canada past the United States by a score of 3-2.
This was a back-and-forth affair between the two arch-rivals, who have been the gold standard in women’s hockey. After the United States took a 2-1 lead into the third period, Brigette Lacquette scored the game-tying goal to send the game into overtime. In addition to Lacquette’s and Bach’s goals, Canada also got a goal and an assist from Brianne Jenner.
The story of this game was special teams. Each team registered at least one power-play goal. However, Canada had the edge in that category as their tying goal came on the woman advantage. Team Canada opened the scoring in this one with Melanie Daoust in the box and Canada on the power-play. Emily Clark jumped on a loose puck and passed it over to Jenner for a 1-0 lead.
That lead was short-lived as Hilary Knight made a little history. With the United States on the power-play, Alex Carpenter found Knight in front of the Canadian net as she potted her 200th career point with USA Hockey. This achievement was overshadowed in a losing effort.
The United States had multiple opportunities to take get the lead in the first period, but only the stellar play of Ann-Renée Desbiens kept them off the board. Desbiens continued her stellar play from the Elite Women’s 3-on-3 event from the NHL Skills Competition. All in all, Desbiens finished with 20 saves on the night.
The Americans continued their relentless attack in the third period with the game tied at 1-1. Dani Cameranesi found Savannah Harmon, who was making her debut in the rivalry series, wide open in the slot to give the Americans their only lead of the hockey game. As the clocked ticked down in the third period, Canada was on a two-player power-play. With the Canadians pinning the Americans in their zone Lacquette fired home the tying goal.
It was a thrilling game as a crowd of 7,006 was on hand at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The home crowd was really behind Team Canada. The place went nuts went Bach put home the game-winner in overtime.
The teams are back in action Wednesday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. This will be the first time these two teams have played against each in Vancouver since the 2010 Olympic Gold medal game, that Canada won.
The United States won the first two games last December in Hartford, Conn. and Moncton, N.B.
