Team USA came, saw, and won. Even though Finland put up a fight, the American win was never in doubt. Team captain Bella Fanale picked up two points in the 5-0 effort, while goaltender Morgan Stickney made seven saves to stretch her shutout streak to full 180 minutes, a new under-18 Women's World Championship record.
Kerttu Kuja-Halkola made 54 saves for Finland.
"Today was another game in which we got better every period, let the puck do some work, and were witty and gritty in the battles," said Team USA coach Liz Keady Norton. "There's plenty of room for improvement but this was a step in the right direction.
"Morgan is a calming influence in there, she's an athlete and good at what she does, and it allows our team to play in front of her the way we can because we believe in her."
One thing Team USA can count on is that every single opponent will get up for the game against them. Finland was no exception. Team Finland coach Mira Kuisma had emphasized the importance of team defense in front of Kuja-Halkola, and the game plan worked almost perfectly in the first period.
"It's another step forward. First period was very energetic, and the players believed in themselves. I'd rather see my players take bold decisions, even if it sometimes leads to mistakes, than play slowly and avoid risks," Kuisma said.
The Americans did get a power play opportunity halfway through the period, though, and they grabbed it with both hands. Mary Derrenbacher fired a wrist shot from the point, Kuja-Halkola made the initial save but Bella Fanale was the first one at the rebound. Kuja-Halkola managed to stop her shot as well, but not Evelyn Doyle’s attempt at the second rebound and Team USA took the lead at 8.52,
"Maybe got off to a slow start but in the second and the third we hemmed them in and playerd relentless USA hockey," said Fanale.
In the second period, USA outshot Finland 21-2, and even Kuja-Halkola couldn’t stop the American onslaught.
Just 6.11 into the period, Ella Johnson’s one-timer odd Christina Scalesi’s beautiful feed slipped through Kuja-Halkola’s five-hole for 2-0 and five minutes – and one killed penalty – later, Sloane Hartmetz’s sneaky spinorama shot surprised Kuja-Halkola through some traffic.
Team USA made it 4-0 just eight seconds before the end of the period. Fanale and Jane Daley set the table for Kylie Amelkovich who was all by herself in front of the Finnish net and could beat Kuja-Halkola from close range.
With seven minutes remaining in the period, Fanale fired a shot from the left faceoff circle, Kuja-Halkola made a save with her blocker, but Fanale beat the Finnish defense to the rebound and roofed the puck to give her team a 5-0 lead in the game.
"I¨m definitely used to playing in this tournament by now. I just try to stay composed and lead by example. If I'm jittery and nervous, it may feed off to my teammates. If I can be a player that others can lean on, I'll definitely do that," said Fanale, in her third tournament.
Stickney now has the record, and will most likely add seconds and minutes to it in the quarterfinal. In the game against Finland, she didn¨t face any shots in the third period in which Team USA outshot Finland 23-0.
"I sometimes I have the same problem at home. I just make sure I'm always warm, and just keep focused and engaged in the game," she said.
Team USA will take on Slovakia in their quarter-final on Thursday.
