Round 1 goes to Canada.
The U.S. hopes there’s a rematch with much more on the line in a week.
The Canadians scored three times in the third period to beat the U.S. 3-2 in the final women’s hockey game in pool play on Wednesday morning.
Meghan Agosta scored twice and Hayley Wickenheiser added a goal as the Canadians locked up the No. 1 seed for tournament play, which begins Saturday. The U.S. will have the No. 2 seed, which could potentially lead to a trickier semifinal game against Finland.
The Canadian women won their 18th consecutive Olympic game dating back to the 1998 gold medal final against the U.S. by rallying in the third period.
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Grand Forks native Jocelyne Lamoureux had an assist, her 99th-career point in a USA hockey jersey. Her twin sister, Monique, was held without a point in 12:10. Warroad’s Gigi Marvin registered a minus-1 in 22:59 of ice time.
Team USA earned a bye to the semifinals by finishing second in the pool. It will play the winner of Finland and Sweden or Russia in the semifinals Monday.
The Americans led 1-0 after two periods Wednesday thanks go Hilary Knight’s tip-in goal at 17:34 of the second period, but Canada scored twice in the opening four minutes of the third to take the lead for good.
Agosta finished off a brilliant feed from Wickenheiser at 2:21 to tie it, then Canada took the lead on a controversial goal.
After a Wickenheiser shot was stopped by U.S. goalie Jessie Vetter, she reached down to cover it. At the same time, forward Alex Carpenter tried to push the puck to Vetter, but sent it through the goalie. The official inadvertently blew the whistle before the puck crossed the goal line, but after a review, it was allowed.
Late in the period, Agosta scored her second goal of the game on a clean breakaway.
The Americans made it a one-goal game with an extra-attacker goal with 1:05 left – former Minnesota defenseman Anne Schleper scored on a point shot – but the U.S. couldn’t get it tied up.
The Americans had defeated Canada four consecutive times in North American exhibitions coming into the Olympic Games.
