2018-19 National Women's Team

CANADA SHUTS OUT FINNS IN FOR PRE-4 NATIONS CUP WIN

JESSICA GOWANS

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) and Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que./Montreal, CWHL) had a goal and two assists apiece, leading Canada’s National Women’s Team to a 6-0 win over Finland in pre-tournament play Sunday ahead of the 2018 4 Nations Cup.

Marie Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL) and Sarah Nurse (Hamilton, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) each chipped in a goal and a helper, while Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta./Buffalo, NWHL) and Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta./Montreal, CWHL) shared a 17-save shutout.

Poulin scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal midway through the first period, a power-play marker set up by Daoust and Johnston, and Renata Fast (Burlington, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) netted a shorthanded tally just under five minutes later.

Special teams continued to be the difference for Canada; another power play marker in the second period, this time off the stick of Johnston, made it 3-0 before Nurse scored at five-on-five to make it a four-goal lead after 40 minutes.

Daoust tallied another power-play goal in the final frame, and Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont./Toronto, CWHL) rounded out the scoring.

Canada outshot Finland 31-17 and finished three-for-five on the power play.

Preliminary-round play at 4 Nations Cup begins Tuesday, when the Canadians take on Sweden in Saskatoon (7 p.m. CT).