2016-17 National Women's Development Team

CANADA HANGS ON FOR WIN AT NATIONS CUP

JASON LA ROSE

FÜSSEN, Germany – Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont./Brampton, CWHL) and Victoria Bach (Milton, Ont./Boston University, HE) provided the offence, scoring less than four minutes apart in the second period to lead Canada’s National Women’s Development Team to a 2-1 win over Sweden on Thursday at the 2017 Nations Cup.

The victory keeps the Canadians atop Group A with a perfect 2-0 record.

Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./University of Minnesota, WCHA) added two assists for Canada, while Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta./Calgary, CWHL) stopped 23 of the 24 shots she faced to record her first win.

After Sweden held a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal in a scoreless first period, the Canadians struck twice in the late minutes of the second.

Stacey got the scoring started on the power play at 13:46, with Brigette Lacquette (Mallard, Man./Calgary, CWHL) and Potomak earning the assists, and Potomak set up Bach just 3:32 after that for a 2-0 lead.

The Canadians got into penalty trouble late in the second period, giving the Swedes a five-on-three advantage for a full two minutes, and again late in the third, when quick penalties put Canada down two players for 79 seconds.

Sweden cashed in on its second two-man advantage, with Lisa Johansson getting the Scandinavians on the board with just 2:55 to go to make it a one-goal game.

Goaltender Sarah Berglind went to the bench with 40 seconds left for the extra attacker, but Maschmeyer and the Canadian defence held the fort to clinch the three points and keep the Swedes winless.

Canada closes out the preliminary round Friday against host Germany (1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT).