USA Recover to Beat Finland in Women's Olympics Ice Hockey 2018
The United States women's hockey team came from behind to beat Finland 3-1 on Sunday in their first match of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
In the Group A contest, Finland performed excellently in the first period and took the lead five seconds before the break through Venla Hovi.
The United States' response came in the second period, as quickfire goals from Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Kendall Coyne put them in front.
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The third period was tense, but despite their best efforts, Finland were unable to find an equaliser; Dani Cameranesi put the gloss on the scoreline for the U.S., firing into an empty net with just seconds remaining.
The first period was one of major frustration for the U.S., as they were held at arm's length by their opponents.
While they didn't have much possession, Finland were happy to camp on the blue line and prevent their rivals from having too much space in dangerous areas. Whenever the U.S. did venture forward, they found a brick wall in goal in Noora Raty.
A scoreless first period appeared to be on the cards, but with the clock ticking down, the United States defence switched off.
Linda Valimaki slalomed past a couple of challenges before setting up Hovi to finish from close range. As Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times noted, the underdogs had been gradually growing into this one as the first period was coming to a close:
After the interval, the play followed a similar pattern, although the Americans were gradually able to show more quality and extra aggression.
Twenty-nine minutes into the match, they finally broke through, as Kelly Pannek won the puck back in a scramble and fed Lamoureux-Morando, who slotted home to Raty's right. As NBC Chicago's James Neveau noted, the 28-year-old showed tremendous persistence to score:
The favourites were buoyed by that goal, and after a penalty against Valimaki brought a power play, they capitalised.
Hilary Knight kept composed on the left wing and squared to an unmarked Coyne, who slapped home a one-timer into the roof of the net. ESPN's Julie Foudy praised Team USA's fightback:
The final stages of the second period saw the United States dominate, and before the break, the Finns were beginning to look a little weary. Tempers were also beginning to fray, per 7Olympics:
When the third period got under way, the favourites were well in control, as Finland failed to apply any major pressure in attack. The intent was there, but the touch of class needed to break down the U.S. wasn't.
Finland did have a late power play, but they were unable to take advantage, with the U.S. penalty-killers defending resolutely.
And when the Finns pulled Nati for an extra skater in search of a last-gasp equaliser, Cameranesi was able to scamper forward and fire into the unguarded goal to make sure of the win.
Next up for the United States is a meeting with the Olympic Athletes from Russia on Tuesday, while Finland will be hoping to bounce back against Canada earlier that day.
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