Amanda Kessel (#28) scores a first-period goal against Maria Sorokina of Russia (#69) while Anna Shokhina (#97) and Maria Batalova (#22) look on during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship on April 1, 2017 in Plymouth, Mich.
On March 31, 2016, the U.S. defeated Russia at the IIHF Women's World Championship, 8-0. It was more of the same almost exactly one year later, as the U.S. defeated Russia 7-0 at the 2017 world championships on home ice in Plymouth, Michigan. It was Team USA's second shutout in as many days, following a 2-0 win over Canada the previous evening.
Though the U.S. dominated play for much of the first period, Russia was able to lock down on defense in front of stalwart goaltending by Maria Sorokina to keep them off the board. Despite two nearly simultaneous U.S. penalties, resulting in a 5-on-3 advantage, Russia couldn't cash in on any scoring opportunities. Almost immediately upon those penalties expiring, Amanda Kessel broke the ice, knocking in a rebound off of a Monique Lamoureux-Morando shot at 18:37 of the period.
Sorokina kept the U.S. off the board for much of the second period, with U.S. goalie Maddie Rooney returning the favor on the other end. At 32:08, Brianna Decker fed Kendall Coyne who scored on the rush to add to the lead. Less than a minute later, at 33:04, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored on a laser from the point. Russia attempted to retaliate in the following seconds, but despite a wild scramble in front of the U.S. net, Rooney managed to deny them. Hannah Brandt nearly scored several minutes later, but the goal was waved off after a referee review determined that it deflected off her skate. Lamoureux-Davidson chipped in her second of the afternoon on a power play in the waning minute of the period, stick-handling around a sprawled Sorokina to find the back of the net at 39:37.
After the scoring deluge in the second period, the third period began quietly for the U.S. Decker scored her second goal of the tournament at 49:15 on the rush, redirecting a pass from Hilary Knight. Knight earned another assist on the following goal, feeding Coyne in front of the net for her second goal of the game at 59:39. Decker closed things out with a bang just seconds later, at 59:53, netting her second goal of the game.
Rooney earned the shutout in her debut with the U.S. national team. Coyne's four points (two goals, two assists) earned her player of the game honors.
With the win, the U.S. moves to 2-0 and will take on Finland in its final pool-play game Monday.
