2018-19 National Para Hockey Team

CANADA FALLS TO U.S. IN GAME TWO OF SERIES

QUINTON AMUNDSON

MONTREAL, Que. – Canada’s National Para Development Team dueled to a draw through two periods of action on Saturday night, but the United States scored three unanswered goals in the final frame to win 5-2 in Game 2 of the series between the two nations at the Défi sportif AlterGo.

Curtis Duguay (Barrie, Ont.) and Auren Halbert (Calgary, Alta.) found the back of the net for Canada.

Jean-François Huneault (Saint-Eustache, Que.) denied 17 of 22 shots for Canada, Taggart VaenderMolen stopped six of eight shots for the win in the U.S. goal.

The first period saw both teams feast on turnovers to create extended forechecking pressure and goals.

The ice-breaking tally belonged to Duguay for the second game in a row. After narrowly missing the goal on a 2-on-1 break with Christina Picton (Fonthill. Ont.), Duguay broke up an American clearance attempt and proceeded to charge to the crease to tap the puck around VaenderMolen just before the nine-minute mark.

Dan Malloy responded for the U.S. with 1:28 remaining in the first period by beating Huneault one-on-one after stealing a puck at the Canadian blue-line.

Just under four minutes into the second period, Joseph Woodke gave the U.S. its first lead by sneaking a low shot from the left face-off circle past Huneault in the dying seconds of an American power play.

Canada responded with a shorthanded equalizer with a minute to play in the second period as Halbert’s potent forehand drive from the high slot connected with the dead centre of the U.S. cage.

The U.S. atoned for the shorthanded goal with David Eustace’s power-play marker just 16 seconds into the third period to restore its lead.

The momentum continued with two more U.S. goals while not allowing Canada a single shot. Harrison Burgess scored shorthanded with 3:04 remaining on the clock, and Chandler Couture added the 5-2 goal 38 seconds later.

Canada will attempt to close out the series with a win on Sunday morning (11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT).