GAME DAY: U.S. Meets Japan in WWC Quarterfinals

After finishing 3-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in preliminary play, the U.S. Women's National Team will take on Japan today in the quarterfinals of the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET at WinSport Arena in Calgary Alberta. Today's game, along with every U.S. tournament game, will be televised live in the United States on NHL Network.

SERIES VS. JAPAN

The U.S. has squared off against Japan on only two occasions at the IIHF Women's World Championship. Team USA is a perfect 2-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) against Japan in the tournament and has a scoring margin of 12-0.

THE LAST TIME OUT

The U.S. and Japan last met in the quarterfinals of the 2019 IIHF WCC where Team USA earned a 4-0 victory against Japan on April 11, 2019 in Espoo, Finland. Cayla Barnes (Eastvale, Calif.), Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.), Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) and Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) each scored goals to help Team USA advance to the semifinals. The only other time the U.S. and Japan have met at the world championships was in 2009 when the U.S. defeated Japan 8-0 to open the tournament. When the two met in 2009, Knight registered a hat trick for Team USA along with teammate Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.) and the U.S. outshot Japan 74-8.

RECORD WATCH

Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) broke the all-time IIHF Women’s World Championship goal record after scoring a goal against ROC in Game 3 of the preliminary round of the IIHF Women’s World Championship. With an assist on Knight's goal, Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.) became the all-time U.S. assist leader in women's world championship play. Knight's goal was her 45th in the women's worlds, eclipsing Hockey Hall of Famer Cammi Granato, while Decker's assist was her 39th, passing Jenny Potter and Krissy Wendell. With her three points this tournament, Knight is now one point away from tying the U.S. all-time points record at the WWC (78), which is also currently held by Granato.

NEWCOMER MILESTONES

So far this tournament, there have been four players who have scored their first career goal with the U.S. Women's National Team, including Britta Curl (Bismarck, N.D.), Jesse Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill.) and Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.). Zumwinkle is tied with Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.) for leading the team in points with four (2g, 2a) total at the 2021 WWC thus far.