Photo @ USA HockeyUSA held on to defeat Canada 2-1 in their preliminary round match up. The win will put USA atop Group A at the 2025 IIHF World Championships.
In the first period, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Kelly Pannek dug a puck lose in the corner with Pannek putting it back to the point. Lee Stecklein collected the puck at the blueline and sent a wrist shot to from the blueline that beat Ann-Renee Desbiens cleanly to make it 1-0.
The second period saw another American defender open up a two goal lead for the Americans. Taking the puck in the neutral zone, Megan Keller walked in against five Canadians untouched and beat Desbiens from the slot.
USA held the two goal lead until late in the third when Laura Stacey was sprung in all alone and slid a puck under Aerin Frankel.
That, however, was as close as Canada would get falling 2-1.
USA outshot Canada 28-19 in the game.
Canada will close out their round robin play against Czechia, while USA faces Switzerland for their final game before the quarterfinals.