CALGARY, Alberta (AP) – Hilary Knight was aged 45 on Tuesday.
Knight overtook former US star Cammi Granato with a goal to make it 3:17 in the second period. The 32-year-old shared two defenders with a cutback to find an open trajectory to take a 2-0 lead.
The goal also put Knight in a tie with Granato for the US record of 78 points at Worlds, and Brianna Decker became the all-time US assists leader with the pass to Knight (39).
“It really is a magical moment and a dream comes true,” Knight said. “I hope the next girl to look up will break that record because that is what it is about.”
The five-time US defending champions took a 1-0 lead in the middle of the first period when Britta Curl hit a ricochet from Grace Zumwinkel’s shot home.
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Lee Stecklein scored 3-0 late in the second period with a shot from the blue line, which the USA cracked in the third period with three goals in five minutes. Kelly Pannek ended a power play drought with a 4-0 lead, Abbey Murphy scored her first goal to force a goalkeeper change and Jesse Compher crowned the goal.
The USA (3-0) started the tournament for the third time (2001, 2009) with three shutouts in a row. The US are looking to extend their 29-game winning streak on Thursday in a Group A showdown against Canada, which later played against Switzerland on Tuesday ahead of Hungary and Japan.
Russia (1: 2), defeated 55:11 in their sixth consecutive defeat against the USA, will face Finland on Wednesday.
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