Victoria Bach scores OT winner as Canada defeats U.S. on home ice in Victoria
Victoria Bach scored the overtime winner Monday in a thriller that saw Canada’s women’s national hockey team defeat the United States 3-2 in Game 3 of the Rivalry Series.
Bach’s backhander on a 2-on-1 pass from Blayre Turnbull at the 3:22 mark beat U.S. netminder Nicole Hensley, who faced a Canadian onslaught in the extra frame.
The Canada-USA Rivalry Series was at full intensity Monday at Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre as the teams were deadlocked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
Canada’s Brigette Lacquette tied the game for Canada in the third period with a wrist shot from just inside the blue line during an intense scramble for the puck.
WATCH | Bach caps win for Canada:
Canada had a two-player power-play advantage for more than one minute and Lacquette’s goal came with the Americans down one player, but facing fierce pressure from the Canadians who held possession for much of the penalties.
The first period was scoreless with Hensley making several stellar glove saves as Canada kept the U.S. hemmed in its zone throughout the opening 20 minutes.
The U.S. hit the post with a blast form the point, but Canada dominated much of the period, moving the puck up the ice in waves.
The teams traded goals in the second, with Brianne Jenner scoring shorthanded for Canada early in the period. Jenner had a clear breakaway and scored when she bobbled the puck and it squeezed through Hensley’s pads.
Hilary Knight scored on the power play for the Americans with a blast from the right face-off circle the 12:01.
The shots were tied at 12 each at the end of the second period. The shots were 21-19 for Canada at the end of three periods.
*Down by a goal, 2-woman advantage followed by a regular PP*<a href=»https://twitter.com/briglacquette?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>@briglacquette</a>: Hold my Gatorade. <a href=»https://twitter.com/hashtag/RivalrySeries?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>#RivalrySeries</a> <a href=»https://t.co/G0ydmOKMeF»>pic.twitter.com/G0ydmOKMeF</a>
—@HC_Women
This was coach Troy Ryan’s first game behind the bench after replacing former coach Perry Pearn last month.
The Americans won the first two games last December in Hartford, Conn. and Moncton, N.B.
The teams play next in Vancouver at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The series wraps up Saturday at the Honda Centre in Anaheim. Calif.
