In Hilary Knight’s build-up to her fifth and final Winter Games appearance, she showcased her scoring prowess with a three-goal performance in a 6-1 victory over Canada, giving Team USA a 2-0 lead in the women’s hockey Rivalry Series. Knight, the team captain and a standout player, proved she is still at the top of her game at 36 years old, following a successful PWHL season where she tied for the league lead in points.
Knight’s impressive performance, including an empty-net goal, came after Abbey Murphy’s hat trick in the series opener, highlighting the American team’s offensive depth. Laila Edwards, Kelly Pannek, and Hayley Scamurra also contributed goals in the win, while the Canadian side saw Marie-Philip Poulin score and Kayle Osborne make her national team debut in goal.
Despite the losses, Canadian coach Troy Ryan remains focused on improvement, acknowledging the strengths of the young American team and emphasizing the importance of the learning process. The series, limited to four games this year, will resume in Edmonton after a break, with the Americans aiming to continue their winning streak against Canada.
Knight’s power-play goal and Pannek’s quick follow-up marker set the tone for Team USA’s dominant performance, capped off by a flurry of goals in the third period. The series outcome remains to be seen as both teams prepare for the upcoming Winter Games in Milan Cortina.