US dominates play in 2-1 win over Finland at women’s worlds

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Hilary Knight got her third goal in two games and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored the winner to help the defending champion United States beat Finland 2-1 at the women’s hockey world championships Tuesday.

Michelle Karvinen put Finland ahead 5:03 into the first period, but Knight tied it with 58 seconds left in the first and then Lamoureux-Davidson put the U.S. ahead 5:09 into the second.

“Obviously, we got off to a slow start, but to come out with a ‘W’ is huge,” Knight told the International Ice Hockey Federation’s website.

Knight scored twice while the U.S. beat Canada 3-1 Monday night in its tournament opener. Canada finished second to the U.S. in last year’s tournament and the Finns were third.

“We had a great, hard, physical camp and came here and had two hard games,” Knight told the IIHF. “We just need to make sure our minds are set the right way and our bodies are healed up and ready to go.”

Meeri Raisanen made 49 saves and kept Finland in the game even as the Americans outshot her team 20-1 in the second period.

“There were a lot of shots,” Raisanen told the IIHF. “It’s always like that. I think we played maybe the best game ever against the USA.”

Jessie Vetter only had to make six saves for the U.S.

Karvinen got an assist from Riikka Valila, who set up her goal with a short pass.

“Me and Riikka have a great chemistry,” Karvinen told the IIHF. “I knew I was going to get the puck back, and I went backhand over the pad. It felt good to get a one-goal lead.”

Knight got her goal by tipping in a shot from Lee Stecklein from the left point, and Lamoureux-Davison got her winner from in the low slot.

The U.S. will face Russia on Wednesday and Finland will face Canada to close out the preliminary round.