2016-17 National Women's Team

CANADA WINS SECOND STRAIGHT AT 4 NATIONS CUP

WENDY GRAVES

VIERUMÄKI, Finland – A power play goal from Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL) midway through the second period proved to be the game-winner as Canada’s National Women’s Team defeated Sweden 3-1 on Wednesday at the 2016 4 Nations Cup.

After Canada had a goal waved off on a delayed penalty, Poulin took a pass from Laura Fortino (Hamilton, Ont./Brampton, CWHL), walked in alone and let loose a shot from between the hash marks.

With the win Canada improved to 2-0 and secured a spot in the gold medal game on Saturday.

Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) scored in the first and Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que./McGill University, RSEQ) added an empty-netter as time ran out in the third.

Fortino added two assists, with Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, Ont./Brampton, CWHL) and Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) having one apiece.

Geneviève Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) made 12 saves for her first win in her first start of the tournament.

Canada has now won 17 of 18 all-time meetings against Sweden at the 4 Nations Cup.

It was the Swedes, though, who got on the board first in this one. A shot from Hanna Olsson snuck under Lacasse’s blocker just past the eight-minute mark of the opening period.

The equalizer came seven minutes later when Irwin tipped a shot in traffic past Swedish netminder Sara Grahn.

Poulin had the only goal of the second, and Daoust iced the win with an empty-net goal with 66 seconds to go in regulation.

Canada outshot Sweden 38-13.

Through two games Canada is 1/8 on the power play and 8/8 on the penalty kill.

Canada concludes the preliminary round on Friday against the United States (12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT). With both teams having already qualified for the gold medal game, Friday will determine seeding and who enjoys the benefits of being the home team in Saturday’s final.