BRAMPTON, Ont. – The U.S. Women’s National Team looks to move to 3-0 in preliminary-round play at the IIHF Women’s World Championship with a meeting against Czechia at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario.

Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on NHL Network. 

TODAY'S MATCH UP

Today's meeting against Czechia marks the third of four preliminary-round games for Team USA at the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship and the first game of a back-to-back. The U.S. enters the game having won its first two prelim games against Japan and Switzerland. Team USA has won 24 of its last 25 preliminary-round games. 

AGAINST CZECHIA...

Today's game is just the second time Czechia and the U.S. have met in Women's Worlds play and the first time the two have played in the preliminary round at Women's Worlds. The lone prior meeting resulted in a 10-1 U.S. win during the semifinals at the 2022 Women's World Championship. 

                        Sept. 3, 2022   Semifinals       W, 10-1

LAST TIME AGAINST CZECHIA

The U.S. last met Czechia during the semifinals of last year's WWC, topping its opponent, 10-1, en route to the gold medal game. Team USA used a six-goal first period and a five-point performance from Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) to propel the team to victory. Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.) added four points in the victory as well. 

MURPHY SETS NEW WWC RECORD

Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill.) set a new IIHF Women's World Championship record for fastest goal scored from the start of the game. Murphy opened the scoring against Switzerland with a high rising shot seven seconds into the first period of the game. 

HUGHES AND GILMORE PICK UP FIRST WNT POINTS

Both Gabbie Hughes (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Becca Gilmore (Wayland, Mass.) picked up their first points as members of the U.S. Women's National Team on Friday. Gilmore tallied the team's fourth goal and Hughes tallied an assist on that goal.