TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Que. – Team USA dropped a 5-1 contest to Canada in the sixth game of the 2022-23 Rivalry Series on Monday at Colisée Vidéotron.
The U.S. and Canada are now tied at three wins each heading into the seventh and final game.
"Our mindset has always been, this is where we’re at after this game, or this is where we’re at after this portion of the series, so the process continues for us," said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the 2022-23 U.S. Women’s National Team. "And we’ll be ready to display that desperation that’s necessary for a game seven.”
Canada opened the scoring early in the first, capitalizing on its first power play of the game. After solid puck circulation, Rebecca Johnston sent a flat pass at the goal line where Sarah Nurse tapped it in from the far post. Just 18 seconds later, Canada doubled its lead, when Laura Stacey put a shot in the back of the net, giving the home team a 2-0 lead early.
Team USA played the rest of the first period mostly in its own defensive zone, but held Canada out of the net any further.
The second period opened with back-and-forth action and a few chances on each side. With 16:05 left in the middle frame, Canada had a three-on-one opportunity, but Aerin Frankel (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) made the pad save to keep the game at 2-0.
Liz Schepers (Mound, Minn.) had an opportunity midway through the second, sitting on the post as a puck trickled to her skates. Canadian netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens slid across the crease to get her pad on the puck, keeping Team USA scoreless.
With five minutes remaining, the U.S. had two solid looks back-to-back. Hayley Scamurra (Getzville, N.Y.) sliced through the middle of the ice, releasing a rising shot, and then the ensuing rebound corralled directly to Jincy Dunne (O’Fallon, Mo.) who ripped a slapper that Desbiens stopped.
In the final frame, the U.S. cut the lead in half with 11:24 remaining. As a Team USA power play expired, Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) sent a shot from the left point directly on Desbiens, who gave up a rebound right off her right-side pad. Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.) was waiting on the doorstep to put the puck away for her first goal of the series.
Two minutes later, Canada regained its two-goal lead. Following a fight for the puck along the boards, Canada circled the puck to the point where Claire Thompson beat Frankel on her stick side to put Canada up 3-1. The home team then added two empty-net goals for the 5-1 final score.
The 2022-23 Rivalry Series concludes on Wednesday, when the U.S. faces Canada in Laval, Que. at the Palace Bell. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be viewed on NHL Network.
NOTES: Canada outshot the U.S., 32-15… Team USA was 0-for-1 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.