United States takes first two games of 2023-24 Rivalry Series against Canada, gets wins in Tempe, Los Angeles

Hilary Knight tallied a goal and an assist to help lift Team USA past Canada, 3-1, in the opening match of the 2023-24 Rivalry Series in Tempe last Wednesday night at Mullett Arena.

Team USA scored two unanswered goals in the third period and goaltender Aerin Frankel kept Canada’s offense at bay with 35 saves on the night.

“Aerin was sharp and I really liked how we responded and learned some lessons, especially on that goal against,” said John Wroblewski, head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “I thought our special teams were solid and we had some awesome efforts from Hillary Knight once again.”

Midway through the first period, Abby Roque forced a turnover deep in Canada’s zone and directed the puck to Britta Curl as she came down from the slot. Curl fired a shot but was denied by Canada’s goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer.

Team USA then received a pair of back-to-back power-play opportunities but were unsuccessful on the advantage. Frankel stunned Canada with a glove save on a short-handed two-on-one to keep the game scoreless.

Fresh off its first penalty kill of the night, Team USA took a one goal lead when Knight found the back of the net with eight seconds remaining in the first period. Abby Murphy drove hard into Canada’s zone and put a shot on net for Knight to collect as she came down from the slot and slipped the puck past Maschmeyer on her backhand.

Brianne Jenner got Canada on the board at 12:32 in the second period to tie the score 1-1 after she capitalized on a rebound.

Taylor Heise found the back of the net at 4:28 in the final frame to give Team USA a 2-1 lead. Rory Guilday fired a shot from the point and created a rebound for Knight on the edge of the crease. She fed a no-look pass across the crease, catching the goal- tender off guard and leaving Heise with an empty net.

Team USA celebrates a goal last Wednesday night against Canada.

With 1:20 remaining in the third period, Lacey Eden chipped the puck for Alex Carpenter in the neutral zone for her to muscle past Canada’s defense before lifting a backhand shot over the shoulder of Maschmeyer to seal a 3-1 victory for Team USA. ***

Behind Gabbie Hughes’ two-goal game, the U.S. Women’s National Team topped Canada 5-2 in the second game of the 2023-24 Rivalry Series at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.

“I’m proud of the team’s performance tonight,” said John Wroblewski, head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “We played hard and kept pushing the pace all throughout the game. We capitalized on opportunities and really moved the puck well today.”

Team USA went on the penalty kill early in the first period and were able to shut down Canada’s power play.

The U.S. took its turn on the power play after a pair of off-setting penalties resulted in a 5-on-three advantage. Alex Carpenter tapped in a rebound on a setup from Abby Roque and Hilary Knight at 17:19 in the first period to give the U.S. a 1-0 leading heading into the middle frame.

Canada’s Laura Stacey responded with a short-handed goal 2:07 into the second period to tie the score at one apiece.

Britta Curl put Team USA back in the lead when she intercepted a breakout pass in the Canadian zone and fired a shot past goaltender Kristen Campbell at 11:51 in the second period.

Minutes later, Hannah Bilka added to the U.S. tally when Carpenter pulled the puck off the boards and chipped it deep into the Canadian zone. Tessa Janecke retrieved the puck behind the net and laid a shot on net where Bilka stood ready to tuck the loose rebound.

Team USA headed into the third period with a 3-1 lead in tow.

Canada came within one goal of the U.S. lead after Jamie Lee Rattray found the back of the net 2:37 into the third period.

Less than a minute later, Hughes put the U.S. back up 4-2, deflecting a one-timer from Abbey Murphy and Haley Winn on the power play at 3:19 in the third frame.

Hughes increased Team USA’s lead at 14:32 in the third period when she netted her second goal of the game. Knight chipped the puck to Heise as she entered the zone and set up Hughes with a one-timer as she drove to the net, putting Team USA up 5-2.

Goaltender Nicole Hensley backstopped the U.S. win with 23 saves.

The Rivalry Series will continue Dec. 14 when the U.S. takes on Canada at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ont., Canada. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET on NHL Network.