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U.S. women's hockey team loses, 5-2, to rival Canada in Spokane
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For the second-straight time on the Qwest Tour, the women's U.S. hockey team lost to archrival Canada. This time, it was at home, and it wasn't even close.
Playing before a U.S. crowd in Spokane, Washington Friday night, Canada defeated the U.S., 5-2. Attendance was listed at 5,427.
After leading the first period, 2-1, Canada scored two power-play goals, both from Caroline Oullette, to go up 4-1 in the second period.
Canada also got a goal and an assist in the game from star Hayley Wickenheiser, who peppered goalie Jessie Vetter with nine shots. The Americans were outshot, 42-32, and were an abysmal one of nine in power play opportunities. Goalie Jessie Vetter lost to Canada for the first time in six games.
"Obviously it wasn't a great night for us," said Mark Johnson, U.S. coach. "Special teams was a factor, especially in the early part of the second period when Canada scored two power-play goals and it went from 2-1 to 4-1. We'll now get back to work, learn from it and move forward."
Canada scored on two of five power plays. Jenny Potter and Gigi Marvin scored for the U.S., which managed just one goal in the first period and another in the second.
Canada beat the U.S., 3-1, in Victoria on Oct. 5 to open the 10-game Qwest Tour, where the Canadians and Americans will play Canada twice more, Dec. 12th and 30th, before the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
With its home Games less than four months away, Canada seems to be gaining traction on the United States, which defeated Canada for the last two world championship titles and most recently in September's Hockey Canada Cup, held at the Olympic venue.
The U.S. is trying to reverse its sliding fortunes in the Olympics, having won gold in the 1998 inaugural tournament, silver in 2002 and bronze in 2006.
The Americans came into the tour on a high note. Since the U.S. fell shockingly short of the Olympic gold-medal game in 2006, losing to Sweden in the semifinals, it has revamped its residency program and infused youth into the team. Just six Olympians remain from the 2006 team. Most are players from NCAA squads, but many have world championship and international experience.
Yet so far, Canada is looking more and more like its old self -- two-time defending Olympic champions, winning in 2002 and 2006.
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