Final, Canada 3-2: Team Canada wins the gold again.
Marie-Philip Poulin’s power-play goal just ended things in Sochi. She beat Jessie Vetter to give Canada yet another gold medal in women’s hockey.
Overtime, 7:31, 2-2: Hayley Wickenheiser had a brilliant chance on a breakaway with 3-on-3 play. She was caught at the last second by Hilary Knight, who pulled her down.
You could make the case for a penalty shot, but instead, Knight was called for cross-checking. The Canadians will have 39 huge seconds of power-play time here.
Overtime, 6:15, 2-2: So much for that. Team USA is called for cross-checking, and we’ll have 3-on-3 hockey for a bit. This should be fun.
Overtime, 6:09, 2-2: A great hustle play turns into a power play for the Americans.
Catherine Ward is called for cross-checking after she leveled Anne Schleper next to the net. Schleper was going to the crease to get a loose puck before being caught by Ward’s stick.
Overtime, 2:47, 2-2: This has been played at a furious pace so far.
The Americans had a great chance when Kacey Bellamy pinched down and one-timed a wrist shot, but Shannon Szabados made an incredible save to extend the game.
Overtime, 0:01, 2-2: The overtime period has begun, and the next goal wins gold.
We’ll have a 20-minute, 4-on-4 period. If there’s no goal, we’ll go to a shootout.
Third intermission: Pretty remarkable stat from the ESPN stats department.
As Bristol’s stats whizzes point out, all five of the Canadian goals scored against America in this tournament have come in the third period.
Also, if you’re looking for time to kill until we get back underway, here’s a preview of tomorrow’s USA-Canada semifinal matchup in the men’s tournament.
And if you’re a fan of Team USA, this video should get you all kinds of jacked up for overtime and tomorrow’s game.
End of third period, 2-2: We’re going to overtime.
The third period just came to an end with the game tied 2-2 after two late goals from the Canadians. What a game.
Third period, 19:06, 2-2: Welp. Tie game.
Marie-Philip Ouellette was in the right place at the right time as a centering pass was deflected off the stick of Jessie Vetter. The puck went straight to Oullette, and she put it over Vetter for the game-tying goal.
Third period, 18:46, Team USA 2-1: The Americans came this close to adding an empty-net goal.
The puck was cleared at the blue line, trickled down the ice and hit the post of the empty cage.
Canada just used its timeout.
Third period, 18:25, Team USA 2-1: The Canadian net is empty in favor of the extra skater.
Third period, 2:00, Team USA 2-1: Natalie Spooner just dashed into the American end, and the Canadian forward got to the net, but Jessie Vetter made the pad save as she closed the five-hole.
Third period, 16:24, Team USA 2-1: This game ain’t over yet.
Brianne Jenner is going to get credit for Canada’s first goal. She knifed into the zone and took a shot at the net. The puck appeared to deflect off U.S. defenseman Kacey Bellamy.
Third period, 15:00, Team USA 2-0: The Americans continue to put the pressure on. Hilary Knight is having herself a third period and has been one of the best players on the ice.
The Canadians are going to have to get desperate very soon.
Third period, 12:32, Team USA 2-0: Jessie Vetter hasn’t been tested a ton, but she just made a big save.
The Team USA goalie went post to post to stuff a wraparound attempt from Rebecca Johnston. Haley Irwin was just barely out of position and couldn’t get the rebound, as the puck bounced away and out of trouble for the U.S.
Third period, 11:29, Team USA 2-0: The Americans have regrouped, and they’re now taking it to the Canadians.
They’re all over Canada in the middle part of the period, as they’ve upped the pressure and don’t seem content with just sitting back and trying to milk the clock.
Third period, 8:03, Team USA 2-0: Another American turnover almost cost Team USA.
Canadian captain Caroline Ouellette couldn’t quite get to a loose puck in time to get full control, but she still was able to push the puck toward the net. Jessie Vetter, however, made the save.
Third period, 6:00, Team USA 2-0: As expected, the Canadians are starting to up their pressure in an attempt to open the game and generate more chances.
The frustration might be starting to set in, though. Laura Fortino just flung the puck at the boards after Canada was called offside in an attempt to enter the zone.
Third period, 2:01, Team USA 2-0: The U.S. is in a good spot now.
Hilary Knight just fed Alex Carpenter with a gorgeous pass in front of the net, and Carpenter quickly jammed it home.
Both American goal scorers — Carpenter and Meghan Duggan — are Massachusetts natives.
Third period, 0:07, Team USA 1-0: Not how Canada wanted to start the period.
Tara Watchorn was just called for tripping, and the Americans get an early power play.
Third period, 0:00, Team USA 1-0: The third period is underway.
End second period, Team USA 1-0: The Americans almost added a goal in the final moments of the period.
Kelli Stack made a great play to feed a centering pass to Hilary Knight, who quickly put it on net right in front but Shannon Szabados made the save.
The second period just came to an end with the U.S. leading 1-0.
Second period, 16:30, Team USA 1-0: That might end up being a huge penalty kill.
The Americans killed off the 30 seconds of 5-on-3 with a bunch of blocked shots and effective clearing attempts. They also killed off the penalty to Anne Schleper, and the game is now back to even strength.
Second period, 14:14, Team USA 1-0: The Canadians are going to have a 5-on-3 now.
Anne Schleper got a little too physical in front of the net and was called for cross-checking. The Canadians will get about a half-minute of 5-on-3 time before finishing the second power play.
Second period, 12:45, Team USA 1-0: Canada is getting another chance to get on the board via the power play.
The U.S. was just whistled for too many men on the ice, and the Canadian power play goes back to work.
Second period, 11:57, Team USA 1-0: The Americans are on the board.
Canada turned it over at its own blue line trying to get it through the neutral zone, and the Americans made them pay. Meghan Duggan ripped a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle following the turnover to give the U.S. a 1-o lead.
Second period, 9:25, 0-0: Not a whole lot going on, and the Canadians’ power play comes to an unsuccessful end.
The Americans did a great job clearing the puck during the man-advantage, with veteran Julie Chu doing some great work in her own zone to help kill off the third Canadian power play.
Second period, 7:10, 0-0: The Canadians will get the first power play of the period.
Kelli Stack was just called for hooking.
Second period, 4:32, 0-0: Things have been checked tighter to begin the second period, as there haven’t been many chances in the early going.
Amanda Kessel almost gave the Americans a scoring chance when she made what appeared to be a gorgeous centering pass from below the goal line. However, Shannon Szabados got a stick on it and broke up what would have been a golden chance for Kendall Coyne.
Second period, 0:01, 0-0: The second period is underway.
First intermission: This game is obviously a big deal in America, and it’s especially important up in Canada.
Apparently the Canadians aren’t letting an average Thursday get in their way of watching the game. Buffalo News writer Mike Harrington is in Toronto today, and he tweeted this photo from the Toronto Underground, where a handful of people are crowded around a TV to watch the game.
[tweet https://twitter.com/BNHarrington/status/436552417765634048 align=’center’]
End of first period, 0-0: The horn sounds, and the first period is over. Both teams had their chances, especially on the power play, in what was a very physical first period.
First period, 19:02, 0-0: Jessie Vetter just bailed the Americans out of danger.
Team USA turned it over in its own zone, with Jennifer Wakefield stealing the puck. She quickly put it on net, but Vetter made the glove save to keep the game scoreless.
First period, 17:35, 0-0: The Canadian power play is unsuccessful, and we’re back to what has been rare 5-on-5 play in this opening period.
First period, 15:30, 0-0: This American power play was far from as effective as the other two, and once again, it ends with a Team Canada power play.
Canada’s Haley Irwin took advantage of a poor USA line change and turned that into a breakaway. All that American defenseman Kacey Bellamy could do was grab onto Irwin as she caught up to her, and that earned Bellamy a holding penalty.
First period, 14:06, 0-0: The Americans are going back on the power play after yet another Canadian penalty. It appeared as if the call was tripping, but it came after a big collision along the boards. So, yeah.
First period, 10:06, 0-0: The two goalies have been fantastic so far, which is why we’re still scoreless after three combined power plays.
The Canadians couldn’t get one by Jessie Vetter during their man-advantage, and we’re tied at 0 midway through the first.
First period, 8:01, 0-0: The Americans were dominant for almost two whole minutes on the power play but have nothing to show for it. In fact, they’ll have to kill a penalty now.
Hilary Knight was called for interference late in the man-advantage, so there will be 14 seconds of 4-on-4 play before a Canadian power play.
First period, 6:13, 0-0: The U.S. is going to get another power play.
The Canadians want to play physical, and it’s costing them in the early going. This time, it’s Meaghan Mikkelson who’s going to the box after delivering a hit from behind in the neutral zone that was whistled down.
First period, 4:04, 0-0: The Americans had plenty of chances on the power play, but Shannon Szabados was incredible in the Canadian net.
She stopped all five power-play shots she saw, including one incredible glove save on a slap shot from Anne Schleper from the top of the slot.
First period, 2:02, 0-0: Team USA gets the first power play.
Tara Watchorn is in the penalty box for body checking, which is illegal in the women’s game. She delivered a picture-perfect hip check along the boards, but that’s a no-no, for better or worse.
First period, 0:01, 0-0: And we’re off in the gold medal game.
Jessie Vetter is in net for the U.S., and Shannon Szabados goes for Canada.
11:30 a.m.: We’re about a half-hour away from what’s sure to be a tremendous hockey game. But before we get to that, let’s look back on this tournament some and examine how these teams got here.
As expected, both the Americans and Canadians steamrolled through the preliminary round and their semifinal matchups. Taking away the first matchup with Canada, Team USA outscored its opponents 18-2. The Canadians, on the other hand, outscored their opponents 11-1, and that’s not counting the Canadians’ 3-2 win over the Americans in the preliminary round.
It’s clear these two teams are still miles ahead of the rest of the women’s hockey programs across the world. Kudos to the powers that be, however, for putting them in a top-heavy group in prelim play to allow other teams to experience success in the early rounds. That also allowed Switzerland and Sweden to reach the bronze medal game. That game was played this morning and was won by the Swiss in pretty exciting fashion.
10:15 a.m. ET: The United States and Canada are going to have a fun — and stressful — couple of days on the ice, and it all begins Thursday in Sochi. One day before the two hockey powers square off on the men’s side in semifinal play, the women will meet in the gold medal game.
Already one of the best rivalries in sports, the two teams will almost certainly add to what’s a growing list of unforgettable games. Canada and the U.S. already have met in these Olympics, with Canada eking out a thrilling 3-2 win.
The Americans will be looking for revenge Thursday, and they’re looking to avenge more than just that preliminary round loss. The two teams have met in two of the last three Olympic gold medal matchups, with Canada winning both, including the 2010 final in Vancouver.
“It’s always revenge against them,” American forward Meghan Duggan said, according to USAToday.com. “I’m still working on revenge from Vancouver. You come up short in that one, it doesn’t feel good anytime you lose a game, so we’re obviously looking for that revenge.”
That certainly will be evident. The two teams have brawled in the past, and adding the gold medal to the mix will make for an even more intense brand of hockey. On the surface, this game has the potential to be an all-time great.
Puck drop from Sochi is slated for noon.
Photo via Twitter/@USATodaySports
