SALT LAKE CITY – Despite tallying three unanswered goals in the third period to send the game to overtime, the U.S. Women’s National Team dropped a 5-4 shootout contest to Canada in the second game of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series, presented by Discover.
The best-of-five series is tied, 1-1, following tonight’s game at the Maverik Center.
Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) and Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.) each scored a pair of goals for Team USA, while netminders Gwyneth Philips (Athens, Ohio) and Nicole Hensley (Lakewood, Colo.) combined for 21 saves for the U.S.
“We’re proud of the way we came back,” said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “This is our second shootout in a row where we haven’t scored. It’s an area where we need to do a better job. We need to work with our players to come up with a better scheme to try to give them some comfort in that situation.”
Team USA generated the first scoring chance of the contest, as Gabbie Hughes (Lino Lakes, Minn.) thwarted a Canadian breakout with a takeaway. Hughes challenged Canadian goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens but was denied as the game remained scoreless.
Team Canada’s Laura Stacey opened the scoring with 17:57 remaining in the first to put Canada up, 1-0.
A pair of passes at the point in the offensive zone between Savannah Harmon (Downers Grove, Ill.) and Ally Simpson (Frisco, Texas) opened up a lane for a shot late in the first. Harmon’s wrist shot was deflected by Zumwinkle into the back of the net to equalize the contest at 1-1 with 3:28 left in the opening frame.
Philips made a stellar save moments after her team’s first goal to keep the game tied heading into the first intermission.
Team Canada reclaimed the lead with a shorthanded tally just 53 seconds into the second. Philips prevented another Canadian goal on the same U.S. power play seconds later, as she made a crucial stop on a breakaway chance to keep the score at 2-1.
HIGHLIGHTS
GAME PHOTOS
With just a minute remaining in the middle frame, Stacey tallied her second of the night, putting Team Canada up, 3-1, heading into the final period.
Team Canada’s Emma Maltais extended her team’s lead to three, as she scored 7:46 into the third to put her team up, 4-1.
Lacey Eden (Annapolis, Md.) halted a Team Canada power-play breakout in the neutral zone, which sent Casey O’Brien (Aquinnah, Mass.) on a breakaway opportunity. O’Brien was unable to beat Desbiens on the chance with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
A five-minute major penalty was assessed to the U.S. with 7:49 left in the contest. Canada was given a minor penalty moments later, which created a two-minute four-on-four scenario.
Team USA pulled Hensley on the ensuing four-on-four opportunity. The extra skater paid dividends, as Knight made the most of a chance in front of the Canadian net, as she scored with 5:42 left in regulation with helpers from Hughes and Caroline Harvey (Salem, N.H.).
Harmon sent Zumwinkle toward the offensive zone with a takeaway near center ice while shorthanded. Zumwinkle showed patience on the ensuing drive toward the net as she powered past defenders and lifted a shot past Desbiens to cut the deficit to one at the 16:46 mark of the frame.
Knight completed the U.S. rally, as she blasted a one-timer into the back of the net with just 1:26 left in the third period to bring the game even at 4-4. Her second of the contest was assisted by Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill.) and Tessa Janecke (Warren, Ill.).
Despite numerous chances for both teams and a furious pace in the five minutes of overtime, a shootout was required to determine a winner. Team Canada defeated the U.S. in the five-round shootout, 2-0, to take game two of the series.
The Rivalry Series, presented by Discover, will continue Sunday (Nov. 10), when the U.S. takes on Canada at the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. Puck drop for game three is set for 5 p.m. MT (7 p.m. ET) on NHL Network.
NOTES: The U.S. outshot Canada, 32-25 … Team USA was 0-for-2 on the power play while Canada was 1-for-4.
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Source: usahockey.com