In the first match between the reigning medalists for the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship, the United States got through the penalty shootout early late Friday, scoring goals and shutting out the Czech Republic 6-0.
Despite losing 10 minutes on penalties in the first 25 minutes of the game, including a 5-on-3 for 43 seconds into the second period, the U.S. led 1-0 and held the Czech Republic to six hits by that time. He was limited to a shot. The first goal came one minute after the first penalty expired. Alex Carpenter quickly scored on an assist from Kendall Coyne Schofield from opposite sides of the offensive zone.
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Carpenter and World Championship newcomer Laila Edwards each added two goals, and Taylor Heise scored an unassisted goal.
Goaltender Nicole Hensley made 19 saves, earning her seventh shutout of her World Championship career. Her teammates took 48 shots on the other side of the ice.
Carpenter and Edwards scored a minute apart late in the second period to give the Americans a 3-0 lead. Carpenter scored on assists from Caroline Harvey and Abby Murphy eight seconds after the U.S. power play ended. Edwards, 20, scored his first world championship goal 59 seconds later with an assist from Britta Karl.
Edwards scored again, but the U.S. scored another of their seven penalties. Coyne Schofield and Harvey served as assistants. Harvey had her third assist, Carpenter completed her hat trick midway through the third period, and Kayla Burns added her first assist to extend the scoring lead. Hise followed Edwards in shooting time.
The U.S. team defeated the Czech Republic for the fourth time in three years and shut out the 2022 and 2023 bronze medalists for the first time. The United States won 5-1 and 9-1 in last year's tournament and defeated the Czech Republic 10-1 in the 2022 semifinals.
The Americans will play Finland again on Saturday, and the Czech Republic's next game will be against Canada on Sunday afternoon.
