Simms snaps tie in OT as U.S. bests Canada at Worlds

The United States secured the top seed at the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship with a 1-0 overtime victory against Canada during a preliminary-round clash between the fierce rivals on Monday night.

Kirsten Simms broke the scoreless deadlock in the extra frame with her first goal of the tournament.

Goaltenders Aerin Frankel and Ann-Renee Desbiens stole the show for 60 minutes of play.

The shots were 25-23 in favor of Canada when the buzzer sounded at the end of the third period, and Desbiens had to rob Hilary Knight - the all-time scoring leader at the women's Worlds - on a shorthanded chance with just over two minutes remaining in regulation.

Frankel, meanwhile, posted a 26-save shutout.

Though there was a lengthy wait for the game's first goal, there was plenty of excitement. Canada had to hold the fort and kill off back-to-back penalties in the middle frame, one of which required Desbiens to make an outrageous save on Hannah Bilka.

The quarterfinals will take place on Thursday. Canada will face Sweden in a rematch of last April's quarters, which required overtime thanks to a stunning 51-save performance from Emma Soderberg.

The Americans are the reigning champions at the Worlds after besting Canada 6-3 during the gold-medal game. The pair of North American juggernauts are the only teams to finish atop the podium since the first tournament in 1990, though Finland claimed second place in 2019.

Canada recently beat the United States in a seven-game battle to win the fourth edition of the Rivalry Series.