U.S. women’s hockey team playing it safe with top scorer

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The U.S. Olympic women’s ice hockey team is playing it safe when it comes to the health of its leading scorer.

Head Coach Mark Johnson, a member of the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ team, told reporters Wednesday that Hilary Knight is continuing to recover from a lower body injury and will not play in an exhibition game against Finland on Thursday. In addition, Johnson will also sit her out of a scrimmage against the Finns on Saturday.

Knight, 20, continues to practice with the team, which opens Olympic play against China on Feb. 14. She is the youngest player on the U.S. roster and leads the team in scoring with 13 goals and 17 assists in 22 games.

The U.S. has won the last two world championship titles and are ranked No. 1 in the world heading into the Olympic Games. Two-time defending Olympic gold medalist Canada is also considered a favorite to win in Vancouver.

-- Austin Knoblauch