HERNING, Denmark – The U.S. (1-0-0-0) continues its preliminary round slate on Saturday, facing off against Finland (0-0-0-1) at the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Puck drop is slated for 3 p.m. local time, 9 a.m. ET and can be viewed live on NHL Network.

TODAY’S MATCHUP

Today's matchup against Finland marks the second of four preliminary-round games for Team USA, after defeating Japan, 10-0, in its opening prelim game of the championship. The U.S. and Finland most recently met twice, once in the preliminary round and once in the semifinals at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Team USA won both meetings by the score of 5-2 and 4-1, respectively.

LAST TIME OUT

In the first preliminary round game of women's worlds, Team USA shut out Japan, 10-0. Nine different players tallied goals, while 15 players had at least a point in the victory. Forward Taylor Heise recorded five assists in her U.S. Women's National Team debut, while Alex Carpenter(2G, 1A), Amanda Kessel (1G, 2A) and Kendall Coyne Schofield (3A) all recorded a three-point game. The U.S. outshot Japan 62-6, holding Japan to zero shots in the middle period. Nicole Hensley recorded the shutout in net.

AGAINST FINLAND...

Team USA holds an 18-1-1-0-1 record all time against Finland at the WWC, having won the previous 11 consecutive matchups between the two teams. The lone U.S. loss came on April 8, 2008, falling 1-0 in overtime in the preliminary round.

HEISE TIES WWC SINGLE-GAME ASSIST RECORD

In her first game as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, forward Taylor Heiserecorded five assists in Team USA's 10-0 win over Japan. Her five assists tied the IIHF single-game women's world championship assist record and joins Lisa Brown (USA, Mar. 19, 1990 vs. SUI), Tina Cardinale (USA, Mar. 19, 1990 vs. SUI) and Alana Blahoski (USA, Apr. 4, 2000 vs. RUS) as the fourth player to accomplish the feat.

A GAME OF FIRSTS

Three players made their U.S. Women's National Team debuts against Japan, forwards Taylor Heise, Hannah Bilka, and defender Rory Guilday. Bilka and Guilday both found the back of the net, their first USWNT goals, while Heise recorded her first national team points. Forward Lacey Eden also recorded her first USWNT goal in the win.