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By Kristin Tullo (@K_Tullo)
Worried that the celebration would keep them awake well into the night, the U.S. Women’s hockey team opted out of attending Friday night’s Olympic opening ceremonies in favor of sleep to prepare for their first game of the 2014 Winter Olympics which took place at noon (local time) on Saturday.
The decision paid off as the U.S. defeated Finland by a score of 3-1, improving their overall Olympic record against the 2010 bronze medalists to 6-0-0-0.
Finland’s goaltender Noora Raty surrendered the first shot on goal she faced to USA’s Hilary Knight who capitalized on a neutral zone turnover to give her team a 1-0 lead in the first period. Knight had just one goal during the Vancouver games four years ago but led the U.S. with six goals during pre-Olympic play, tied with Kelli Stack who had a team-high six goals and 14 points.
Knight would finish the day with two points (one goal, one assist) and a team-high eight shots on goal through 22:07 of ice time.
Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images
22-year-old Megan Bozek would help her team build the lead in her first Olympic game, banking a shot from the point wide of Raty’s cage which would eventually find the back of the net off of Stack’s shoulder to make it 2-0 in favor of the U.S.
Bozek, a two-time NCAA Champion with the University of Minnesota, finished the pre-Olympic tour with with 10 points including a four-point game against Sweden in early November.
The U.S. kept the pressure on Raty, giving the former Golden Gopher a steady workload while frustrating the Finnish offense with their stingy defense.
Alex Carpenter, one of two teenagers competing for the U.S., would pot her first of the tournament to give team USA a 3-0 hold heading into the final period. Finland finished the first two periods with seven shots on goal to USA’s 33.
With USA’s Brianna Decker in the box for hooking, Susanna Tapani made it a 3-1 game, scoring Finland’s first goal against the U.S. in an Olympic tournament since Valentines Day in 2006.
The U.S. would hold onto the two-goal lead with 4:30 left in the game to earn their first victory in the women’s opener.
Through six Olympic contests since 1998, the USA has outscored Finland 29-7, shutting out the Fins on three occasions. Prior to today’s three-goal effort, the U.S. had never scored fewer than four goals on Finland at the Winter Games.
“I’m happy with the way our team started the game today,” head coach Katey Stone said. “Obviously, to have an opportunity to score in the first minute of the game takes a little bit of the edge off the anxiety of the first game.”
Final Shots on Goal: USA- 43 FIN- 15.
Next game for the U.S. women will be Feb. 10 at 5 am ET against Switzerland.
Related Olympic Coverage from The Hockey Guys:
Jessie Vetter to start in goal for Team USA vs Finland
Meghan Duggan ready to lead Team USA into Sochi Olympics
Hilary Knight, Team USA prepare to win back gold in Sochi
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