On the strength of two goals from defender Haley Winn, the US women’s national hockey team took down Switzerland, 4-0, in their opening match of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championships in Utica, NY, on Wednesday.
Team USA Stuffed by the Swiss
Team USA would come out swinging from the opening bell, developing multiple lengthy offensive possessions to start the game. However, Eisgenossinnen netminder Andrea Brändli was able to abate the American onslaught through the first 20 minutes.
The Americans took the first penalty of the game with an interference call on Haley Winn at 11:04. While the IIHF has not adopted the PWHL’s “jailbreak” rule, the Americans played the aggressor on the PK. An intercepted pass would turn into a fast break into the offensive zone, leaving the Swiss power play unit scrambling. Although the rush was unsuccessful, the message was sent: the Americans are here to win and win big.
The tournament hosts outshot their opponents 14-4 in the first period but were kept scoreless thanks to a mighty effort by Brändli.
The Vault Opens
After a slight delay due to a malfunction with the Adirondack Bank Center’s lighting system, Team USA picked up right where they left off to start the second period.
The Americans would finally break the deadlock five minutes into the second period. Haley Winn scored her maiden national team goal with a fluttering wrister through traffic. The puck found its way underneath the glove of Brändli to put Team USA in front.
The United States went back to the power play after Janine Hauser delivered an illegal hit on Coyne Schofield. The Americans held the puck in the zone for much of the power play but once again could not get past the Swiss penalty kill.
Team USA doubled their lead less than five minutes later. PWHL Boston skipper Hillary Knight deflected Alex Carpenter’s point shot onto the pad of Brändli. Coyne Schofield mopped up the juicy rebound left by the Swiss keeper to add insurance to the American effort.
After another dominant period, Team USA led 2-0, outshooting the Swiss 21-4 in the middle frame.
That Winn-ing Feeling
Switzerland picked up another power play opportunity early in the third period following an illegal hit delivered by Minnesota Golden Gopher Abbey Murphy.
Switzerland’s Alina Müller was sent to the box for a hooking minor near the halfway mark of the third. The PWHL Boston forward did her best to take Hanna Bilka to the box as well, attempting to goad a roughing minor post whistle. The officials, however, elected not to send Bilka off, much to the frustration of Müller.
Müller’s penalty would end up being costly as Team USA Captain Hillary Knight masterfully deflected Cayla Barnes’s wrister over Brändli’s glove to make it a 3-0 game with 9:15 to play. It was her 62nd goal in World Championship play.
Knight appeared to have scored a second goal just seconds later on a spectacular backhand over the right shoulder of Brändli. However, the goal was waived after review. The puck struck the corner of the goal frame and fell onto the goal line. Brändli was able to find the puck, pushing it away just before it fully crossed the line.
Haley Winn scored her second of the game, putting the final dagger into the Swiss effort. Winn fired a laser snapshot into the blockerside corner to make the score 4-0.
Team USA took home all three points in their first World Championship game on home soil since 2017, beating Switzerland 4-0.
The US nationals will face off against Czechia on Friday at 7:00 pm ET on NHL Network.
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