Blayre Turnbull of Canada reacts after scoring against the USA during second-period Rivalry Series hockey action in Laval, Que., Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
LAVAL, Que. – Blayre Turnbull led all scorers with two goals as Canada used a four-goal second period to fuel a 5-0 win over the U.S. to claim the Rivalry Series.
Ella Shelton, Marie-Philip Poulin and Victoria Bach added the others for Canada, which won its fourth straight Wednesday to take the series 4-3.
Laura Stacey dished out three assists and Ann-Renée Desbiens earned a 25-save shutout.
Nicole Hensley surrendered three goals on eight shots before Maddie Rooney entered the game in her place. Rooney stopped eight-of-10 shots in 29 minutes of relief for the U.S.
The Canadians were coming off a 5-1 victory on Monday in Trois-Rivières, Que.
Canada had dropped the first three contests in November after going 3-1-1 against the Americans in last season’s Rivalry Series, which was cut short by the pandemic.
Shelton opened the scoring at 17:02 into the opening frame when Stacey sent a centring pass to Emily Clark, who was stopped. But Shelton came crashing in and tucked the puck into the net despite a scramble in front.
Poulin kick-started a dominant, yet efficient second period for Canada, which scored four goals on just seven shots.
The captain doubled Canada’s lead at 3:41, taking a pass from Jamie Lee Rattray and beating Hensley with a wrist shot.
On the power play, Stacey’s shot from the left faceoff circle was tipped in by Turnbull at 10:26.
Thirty-two seconds later, Stacey found Turnbull with a centring pass and Turnbull scored on a one-timer between two American defenders to make it a 4-0 game.
Bach joined in on the action under two minutes later. Jill Saulnier sprang Bach on a breakaway and she beat Rooney with a backhand shot.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2023.
