By: Benedict Chen

MADISON, Wis.- The United States won their second game of the 2022 IIHF U-18 Women's World Championship after a strong first period push by their offense.

In the first period, USA alternate captain Laila Edwards (Wisconsin) repeated what she did on Monday and scored a power play goal to put the United States up 1-0. Finnish goalie Hannele Tarkianen attempted to get the puck away from USA's Tessa Janecke but ended up sliding a too far and created a huge opening for Edwards to put the puck in the back of the net.

Tessa Janecke (Penn State) made a sharp play by backhanding the puck over the shoulder of Tarkianen and into the top of the net to help extend Team USA's lead to 2-0.

In the second period the US was able to maintain offensive pressure in the Finnish zone but was unable to find the back of the net. Finland had a few opportunities in the period but were unable to take advantage of the strong US defense.

In the third period, three goals were scored under three minutes by Team USA. Finley McCarthy (Selects Academy) started off by going top shelf to score her first goal of the tournament and then both Tessa Janecke and Laila Edwards scored, getting their second goals of the game.

USA goalie Ava McNaughton (Wisconsin) made eleven saves to earn the shutout victory and Team USA outshot Finland 47-11.

Tarkianen and Edwards were given player of the game honors for Finland and USA respectively.

After a frustrating defeat on Monday to Finland, Canada bounced back to beat Sweden 3-1 at U18 Women's Worlds.

Canada last faced Sweden three years ago at the 2019 U18 Women's Worlds. Canada had won all previous contests against Swedes in the tournament since 2008.

Two minutes and twenty-eight seconds into the first period, Reichen Kirchmair (Providence) scored Canada's first goal of the tournament with help from Ava Murphy (Wisconsin) and Tova Henderson (Minnesota-Duluth).

With fifty-seven seconds left in the first period, Rhea Hicks (Syracuse) came out of the penalty box to make it a 3-on-1 and scored on a pass from Alexia Aubin (Stanstead).

In the second period, Rhea Hicks fired a shot from the faceoff in Sweden's zone past Swedish goalie Lisa Jonsson to make it 3-0 Canada.

Three minutes and fifteen seconds left in the second, Tuva Kandell of Sweden went bar-down and made it 3-1 Canada.

No goals were scored in the third period as Canada's goalie Mari Pietersen and their defense was able to hold off Sweden for the rest of the game.

Canada outshot Sweden 56-34 and Mari Pietersen made 33 saves in her debut.

Tuva Kandell and Rhea Hicks received the player of the game honors for their team.