After putting a scare into the United States, Finland looked to do the same against Canada in their second game of the round robin. But Canada scored just 35 seconds in en route to a 4-1 victory on Tuesday.
Melodie Daoust had a goal and an assist and Marie-Philip Poulin added one in the Canadian victory. The third member of the line, Meghan Agosta also had a goal. Shannon Szabados made 22 saves in her first start of the tournament.
Canada got off to a great start when Daoust took the puck on a two-on-one with Agosta. Daoust showed patience before getting the puck over to Agosta, who made no mistake. The goal was Agosta’s 16th Olympic goal, putting her just one behind Hayley Wickenheiser for the Canadian record.
The goal came just 35 seconds in.
🏒@MeghanAgosta capitalizes on a beauty pass from @Daoust17 to open the scoring #PyeongChang2018🏒 pic.twitter.com/dLJa1LtGOh
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 13, 2018
Later in the period, Poulin stole the puck at the Finnish blue-line and broke in all alone and roofed a backhand past Noora Räty. The goal was originally waved off and play continued, but at the next whistle, the play was reviewed and Canada went up 2-0.
Was it a goal?
Surely…#Olympics pic.twitter.com/DMB6QmR4QV
— 7Olympics (@7olympics) February 13, 2018
It looked like Canada went up 3-0 late in the first period, as it looked like Natalie Spooner banged in a rebound but it was ruled no goal and the ensuing review proved inconclusive.
They would end up actually taking a 3-0 lead in the second period when Daoust would put a perfectly placed shot past a screened Räty. She has three goals in two games so far in the tournament to lead Canada.
Daoust was Les Canadiennes’ first-round pick this past CWHL draft.
Later in the period, Jill Saulnier would be sprung on a breakaway by Rebecca Johnston to score her first Olympic goal and make it 4-0.
Jill Saulnier scores her first ever Olympic goal on a breakaway. 4-0 #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/Jo31AwFKQH
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 13, 2018
In the third period, Riikka Välilä pounced on a loose puck and beat Szabados to put Finland on the board. Väililä is 44 years old and is taking part in her fourth Olympic tournament. She previously played in 1998, 2002 and 2014. It was her ninth career Olympic goal. She is already in the IIHF Hall of Fame (inducted in 2010) as she had retired and came back.
Canada outshot Finland 32-23 and Räty was great, making 28 saves.
Canada will finish the Round Robin against the United States. That game goes February 14 at 10:10 p.m. Eastern. With the win, Canada clinched a spot in one of the two semi-finals. The USA would join them with a win over the Olympic Athletes from Russia later Tuesday morning.
