SOCHI, Russia – Five-time Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser is the biggest name in women's hockey.
She lived up her billing and stature Wednesday by setting up one of Meghan Agosta's two third-period goals and scoring one herself to power Canada to a 3-2 come-from-behind win against the USA in their preliminary round meeting.
Although Canada now owns the No. 1 seed in its grouping, it is still highly likely that the Americans and Canadians will meet again in the gold medal game.
Canada's win ended USA's run of four consecutive wins against the USA in the pre-Olympic tour.
Trailing 1-0 entering the third period, the Canadians tied the score when Wickenheiser's pass set up Agosta for a power-play goal at 2:21 of the third period.
The Canadian and U.S. women's hockey teams are considered evenly matched to the point that the outcome of their games often comes down to a single mistake or break.
That happened in this game as Wickenheiser was credited with a goal that U.S. goalie Jessie Vetter seemed to have stopped. The puck was under her, but suddenly it rolled out and across the goal line. The Americans seemed to be arguing that the whistle had blown, but the referee did not agree.
Agosta scored her second goal of the game on a breakaway with 5:05 left to give the Canadians a 3-1 cushion.
Anne Schleper brought the USA within a goal when her slap shot went in off the glove of Canada goalie Charline Labonte with 1:05 left.
The Americans had taken a 1-0 lead late in the second period when Hilary Knight tipped in a Schleper shot for a power play goal after an ill-advised Canadian penalty.
