The U.S. started with record speed and didn't let up, improving to 2-0 so far.
photo: Andrea Cardin/IIHF
The United States moved to 2-0 this afternoon with a convincing 9-1 win over Switzerland at CAA Centre. The win keeps the Americans atop Group A standings while the Swiss fall to 0-2 and have scored but one goal so far, having lost to Canada 4-0 to start the tournament.
Abby Roque had a goal and three assists for the winners and Taylor Heise chipped in with three assists of her own and now leads the tournament with five points. The Americans held a 54-13 shots advantage in the game.
The Swiss are now 0-11 all time against the U.S.--seven by shutout--and have a whopping 6-99 goals differential in those games.
The Americans won the game by putting on a clinic of how to pass from behind the net to the dangerous areas in front. Time and again perfect passes gave a player a clear chance from close range.
"We used the triangle, the trapezoid really well going east to west behind the net," Heise concurred. "I think almost all goals had two assists on them, which makes sense because we're a great team that likes to pass. Likes to score, but also likes to pass."
Abby Roque had a goal and three assists for the winners and Taylor Heise chipped in with three assists of her own and now leads the tournament with five points. The Americans held a 54-13 shots advantage in the game.
The Swiss are now 0-11 all time against the U.S.--seven by shutout--and have a whopping 6-99 goals differential in those games.
The Americans won the game by putting on a clinic of how to pass from behind the net to the dangerous areas in front. Time and again perfect passes gave a player a clear chance from close range.
"We used the triangle, the trapezoid really well going east to west behind the net," Heise concurred. "I think almost all goals had two assists on them, which makes sense because we're a great team that likes to pass. Likes to score, but also likes to pass."
Additionally, the U.S. got goals from Gabrielle Hughes and Rebecca Gilmore, their first with the team. "It was great to see them, especially today, get their first goals," Heise added. "It's an exciting time. You can see the smiles on their faces when you get it kind of under your belt, and we're all so happy for them, so I think that's just a huge thing is for everybody to get involved in the play and holding their own and doing great on the ice."
The Americans have a day off before playing Czechia on Easter Sunday while the Swiss have two days to prepare for Japan on Monday.
Today’s win was punctuated by Abbey Murphy, who set a record for the fastest goal from the start of the game. Roque won the opening faceoff, and Murphy skated into the centre circle to claim the puck. She raced down the outside and fired a bad-angle shot over the glove of Saskia Maurer just seven seconds after puck drop to give the U.S. a lead they never relinquished.
The Americans have a day off before playing Czechia on Easter Sunday while the Swiss have two days to prepare for Japan on Monday.
Today’s win was punctuated by Abbey Murphy, who set a record for the fastest goal from the start of the game. Roque won the opening faceoff, and Murphy skated into the centre circle to claim the puck. She raced down the outside and fired a bad-angle shot over the glove of Saskia Maurer just seven seconds after puck drop to give the U.S. a lead they never relinquished.
Although the U.S. dominated the period, they were foiled time and again by Maurer, who was sensational. But eventually she wore down and the relentless U.S. found their range, scoring three late goals in a span of 97 seconds. They made it 2-0 at 15:19 when a Caroline Harvey point shot went all the way bar down on a power play. Just 23 seconds later, they made it 3-0 off a Swiss giveaway deep in their end. This time it was Heise feeding Hannah Bilka in front, and a minute later Gilmore converted a pass from Hughes from in close.
The Swiss had their best scoring chance early in the second. Laura Zimmermann made a sensational pass from being the net to Alina Marti out front, but Hensley had the position and made the blind save with her pad perfectly positioned. The Americans came right back and dominated, however, and made it 5-0 at 8:23 thanks to the Murphy-Roque combination again. This time Murphy made the nice pass, and Roque fired a bullet one-timer past the outstretched blocker of Maurer.
Murphy was back in the news later in the period, but for the wrong reasons. She took a five-minute charging major, and with it a game misconduct, and Sinja Leemann took a minor for a retaliatory punch. But on the ensuing 4-on-4 the open ice favoured the Americans, who made it 6-0 at 18:04 off another Heise pass, this time to Amanda Kessel in front. It was Heise’s third helper of the game and fifth point in any many periods of hockey this tournament.
The U.S. added another power-play goal at 7:45 of the third thanks to another setup from behind the icing line. This time it was Roque to Harvey who snapped a shot without pause, beating a helpless Maurer with another perfect shot.
The Swiss finally--finally!--scored, for the first time against the U.S. since April 6, 2008. Alina Muller came down the right wing and fired a shot that Hensley kicked out, but Rahel Enzler was right there to smack in the rebound to make it 7-1.
Not to be outdone, the U.S. came back and fired an eighth goal, Cayla Barnes beating Maurer high over the shoulder at 15:00. Hughes added a final goal with 29.7 seconds remaining.
The Swiss had their best scoring chance early in the second. Laura Zimmermann made a sensational pass from being the net to Alina Marti out front, but Hensley had the position and made the blind save with her pad perfectly positioned. The Americans came right back and dominated, however, and made it 5-0 at 8:23 thanks to the Murphy-Roque combination again. This time Murphy made the nice pass, and Roque fired a bullet one-timer past the outstretched blocker of Maurer.
Murphy was back in the news later in the period, but for the wrong reasons. She took a five-minute charging major, and with it a game misconduct, and Sinja Leemann took a minor for a retaliatory punch. But on the ensuing 4-on-4 the open ice favoured the Americans, who made it 6-0 at 18:04 off another Heise pass, this time to Amanda Kessel in front. It was Heise’s third helper of the game and fifth point in any many periods of hockey this tournament.
The U.S. added another power-play goal at 7:45 of the third thanks to another setup from behind the icing line. This time it was Roque to Harvey who snapped a shot without pause, beating a helpless Maurer with another perfect shot.
The Swiss finally--finally!--scored, for the first time against the U.S. since April 6, 2008. Alina Muller came down the right wing and fired a shot that Hensley kicked out, but Rahel Enzler was right there to smack in the rebound to make it 7-1.
Not to be outdone, the U.S. came back and fired an eighth goal, Cayla Barnes beating Maurer high over the shoulder at 15:00. Hughes added a final goal with 29.7 seconds remaining.