Canadians 2-0 heading into Sunday’s big clash with archrival U.S.

Canada’s women’s hockey team has earned a well-deserved break at the World Championship, having already won two games in dominant fashion. On Friday, they defeated Switzerland 4-0, following a 5-0 shutout over Finland to open the tournament.

With Saturday off, the team will resume competition with a crucial back-to-back schedule starting Sunday against the United States, who are also 2-0, followed by a match against the host Czech Republic on Monday to conclude Pool A.

The Czechs, who are hosting the tournament for the first time, will face Canada in their final preliminary game. Czechia, a consistent medal contender in recent years, fell 4-0 to the U.S. on Friday, but they remain a formidable opponent. According to Canada’s head coach Troy Ryan, the tournament’s host country had some influence in determining the schedule, making the Czech match a challenge that Canada must prepare for.

Canada’s archrival, the U.S., is always a high-stakes contest. Their games are often unpredictable, ranging from a tight 1-0 preliminary round win last year to a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory in the final in Utica, N.Y. The two countries split the five games in this season’s Rivalry Series, with Canada emerging victorious 3-2.

Coach Ryan recognizes that every matchup with the U.S. brings something different, from physical play to high-scoring offense and solid defense. “It’s weird. It’s hard to figure it out to be honest,” Ryan said. “We’ve won with physicality, offense, and defense. God knows what this one will end up like. We’ll see.”

In the victory over Switzerland, Canada took control with a three-goal burst in just 2:32 during the second period. Team captain Marie-Philip Poulin was instrumental, assisting on the first three goals, while teammates Daryl Watts, Micah Zandee-Hart, Natalie Spooner, and Laura Stacey all contributed on the scoreboard.

Poulin’s leadership was evident once again, with Watts noting, “When we need her the most, she gets it going for us.” Despite an error from Poulin that led to Spooner’s first power-play goal, the team kept their composure. “Full disclosure, full miss,” Poulin joked about the pass, but Spooner was quick to finish the play.