Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland. With a powerful, methodical 5-0 victory over Germany on Thursday, Canada advanced to the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship semi-final. The Canadian power play came through with three goals.
The Canadians, vying for their first world title since 2012, will face the Finland-Czech Republic winner in their next game. While it was only 1-0 Canada until almost the halfway point of this quarter-final, the motherland of hockey controlled the play and chipped away patiently, undeterred by a handful of disallowed goals.
"I liked how we responded after the first period," said Canadian coach Perry Pearn. "I didn't think our first period was great. I think you saw earlier in the day with the U.S.-Japan game, these are hard games to play. Germany sat back and defended, defended, defended, so it's hard to get transition chances. Everything you create, you have to create in the offensive zone or special teams."
Emerance Maschmeyer won her second start for Canada and Jennifer Harss, a rock for Germany throughout this tournament, did her best as shots favored the Canadians by a whopping 66-9 margin.
"She's probably the best goalie I know," German defender Tabea Botthof said of Harss. "She keeps us in the games and she decides games. We're really lucky to have her. She's a great goalie."
Blayre Turnbull scored twice, Brianne Jenner potted a goal and an assist, and Laura Stacey and Natalie Spooner also scored for Canada, which dominated in both faceoffs and puck possession. Brigette Lacquette and Erin Ambrose added a pair of assists apiece.
Spooner is now tied with U.S. captain Kendall Coyne Schofield for the tournament scoring lead (5+3=8), and Jenner also has eight points (3+5=8).
Despite a strong preliminary round, the Germans were unable to emulate their surprising 2017 playoff run that left them fourth in Plymouth, Michigan. But that year, they beat Russia 2-1 in the quarter-final. Canada is unquestionably a more daunting opponent.
"I think we can be happy with the way we played our games and that we got into the quarter-finals," said Botthof. "We played some good games. Now we just have to learn from all of it and keep going and keep building up our program. We'll be ready to go next year."
Injured Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin sat in the stands, next to number one goalie Shannon Szabados, who also got the day off.
Turnbull showed off her power game on Canada’s first goal at 7:40, cutting in off left wing and slicing through the German defence like a knife through bratwurst before scoring her third goal of the tournament in tight.
Rebecca Johnston thought she’d added to Canada’s lead a few minutes later, but the goal was waved off due to a player in the crease.
In the second period, with Canada outshooting Germany 9-1 in the frame, Jenner stepped up with her third of the tournament at 7:02. On the power play, Canada’s acting captain hustled to the net on the rush and tipped in Sarah Nurse’s feed.
"Just the momentum of our power play and the confidence that we have with it moving forward, it's been a big part of the tournament," Spooner said. "If we can keep that going, power plays can win games."
At 9:26, Canada took full command at 3-0. Harss couldn’t control the rebound from Micah Zandee-Hart’s blue line drive, and Stacey banged it in. Shots were 29-3 for Canada in the frame, and only Harss's great focus kept things respectable for Christian Kunast's squad.
Early in the third period, Saulnier thought she’d put Canada up by four by going to the net and deflecting in a feed Johnston skimmed parallel to the goal line. However, it was announced that the puck had been illegally directed into the net by a skate.
It really didn't matter. At 3:11, working with a 5-on-4, Spooner deflected Lacquette's centre point drive through Harss's legs and it was 4-0 for real.
"Especially when we're playing Germany, they've got a hot goalie, so I think it was important today to take away her eyes and not let her see those shots," Spooner said of her net-front presence.
At 11:32, Melodie Daoust leaned into a power play drive that tipped off a German defender's stick, went in off Turnbull, and gave Canada a five-goal lead.
"Those are the things we need to do every single game regardless of who our opponent is," Turnbull said. "As Perry says, we are a blue-collar team and we score by working hard and by going to the hard areas of the ice and doing the little things right. Playing with grit. If we continue to do that we should continue to have success."
It was the fifth consecutive Canadian win over Germany at the Women’s Worlds, dating back to 1990. The last meeting was an 8-0 Canadian win in Winnipeg (2007). Harss and forward Andrea Lanzl are the only two still-active Germans from that 2007 game. The Germans have never scored a goal against Canada at the Women's Worlds.
Spooner reflected on the opportunity to play one extra game at this inaugural 10-team Women's Worlds instead of getting Canada's usual semi-final bye: "It's definitely different. But I think it's fun to play more games. To be able to showcase our talent in women's hockey, I think it's amazing to have that many games, and especially to be on TV and for the little girls to see it."
Turnbull showed off her power game on Canada’s first goal at 7:40, cutting in off left wing and slicing through the German defence like a knife through bratwurst before scoring her third goal of the tournament in tight.
Rebecca Johnston thought she’d added to Canada’s lead a few minutes later, but the goal was waved off due to a player in the crease.
In the second period, with Canada outshooting Germany 9-1 in the frame, Jenner stepped up with her third of the tournament at 7:02. On the power play, Canada’s acting captain hustled to the net on the rush and tipped in Sarah Nurse’s feed.
"Just the momentum of our power play and the confidence that we have with it moving forward, it's been a big part of the tournament," Spooner said. "If we can keep that going, power plays can win games."
At 9:26, Canada took full command at 3-0. Harss couldn’t control the rebound from Micah Zandee-Hart’s blue line drive, and Stacey banged it in. Shots were 29-3 for Canada in the frame, and only Harss's great focus kept things respectable for Christian Kunast's squad.
Early in the third period, Saulnier thought she’d put Canada up by four by going to the net and deflecting in a feed Johnston skimmed parallel to the goal line. However, it was announced that the puck had been illegally directed into the net by a skate.
It really didn't matter. At 3:11, working with a 5-on-4, Spooner deflected Lacquette's centre point drive through Harss's legs and it was 4-0 for real.
"Especially when we're playing Germany, they've got a hot goalie, so I think it was important today to take away her eyes and not let her see those shots," Spooner said of her net-front presence.
At 11:32, Melodie Daoust leaned into a power play drive that tipped off a German defender's stick, went in off Turnbull, and gave Canada a five-goal lead.
"Those are the things we need to do every single game regardless of who our opponent is," Turnbull said. "As Perry says, we are a blue-collar team and we score by working hard and by going to the hard areas of the ice and doing the little things right. Playing with grit. If we continue to do that we should continue to have success."
It was the fifth consecutive Canadian win over Germany at the Women’s Worlds, dating back to 1990. The last meeting was an 8-0 Canadian win in Winnipeg (2007). Harss and forward Andrea Lanzl are the only two still-active Germans from that 2007 game. The Germans have never scored a goal against Canada at the Women's Worlds.
Spooner reflected on the opportunity to play one extra game at this inaugural 10-team Women's Worlds instead of getting Canada's usual semi-final bye: "It's definitely different. But I think it's fun to play more games. To be able to showcase our talent in women's hockey, I think it's amazing to have that many games, and especially to be on TV and for the little girls to see it."
