In a thrilling showdown on Thursday night, the United States women's hockey team faced off against Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia, winning the game 2-1 in a shootout. The victory sets the stage for a decisive Game 5 in the ongoing Rivalry Series, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday night in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
The match started with the U.S. team taking advantage of a penalty against Canadian star Marie-Philip Poulin for tripping. Hilary Knight delivered the first blow, scoring for the United States at 8:13 in the first period. However, the Canadians equalized late in regulation when Blayre Turnbull found the back of the net with just 2:20 remaining, pushing the game into overtime.
Goalie Gwyneth Philips played an outstanding game, making 31 saves throughout regulation and overtime. In the shootout, which determined the winner after the tie, Philips remained flawless, while U.S. players showed their skill under pressure. Knight kicked off the shootout by scoring with a low wrist shot to Desbiens' glove side. Hannah Bilka followed suit, utilizing a backhander that slipped through the legs of Canadian goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens on the team's third attempt. Kelly Pannek sealed the game with a high shot on the fourth attempt, ultimately leading to the U.S. win.
Among the American shooters, Taylor Heise was the only player who missed, while Canadian players Brianne Jenner, Poulin, and Jamie Lee Rattray all failed to convert their shootout opportunities. This result adds an extra layer of excitement heading into Game 5, particularly given the high stakes of the rivalry between the two teams. This series has been closely contested, with the U.S. initially winning the first game 7-2 on November 6 in San Jose, California. Canada responded strongly, winning the next two games: a thrilling shootout victory of 5-4 in Salt Lake City on November 8 and a more decisive 4-1 win in Boise, Idaho, on November 10.
Despite some recent trends of booing the American anthem at NHL and NBA games in Canada, fans at the Scotiabank Centre showed respect during the anthem, contributing to the electric atmosphere of the match. The upcoming Game 5 promises to be a crucial and dramatic final game in this intense rivalry.
