Team USA Takes Rivalry Series Game Four, 2-1

By USA Hockey, 02/06/25, 9:30PM EST

Philips Posts 31-Save Performance In Shootout Victory; Game Five on Saturday

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Behind a 31-save performance by goaltender Gwyneth Philips (Athens, Ohio), the U.S. Women’s National Team beat Canada, 2-1, in a shootout, to win game four of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series at the Scotiabank Centre on Thursday.

The series now stands at 2-2, setting the stage for a winner-take-all game five to wrap up the 2024-25 Rivalry Series, slated for Saturday (Feb. 8) at Credit Union Place in Summerside, P.E.I. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. AT (6 p.m. ET) and can be viewed on NHL Network.

“I’m just so happy for our team to get a win like this in a building that was as loud as it was tonight,” said John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the 2024-25 U.S. Women’s National Team. “Gwyneth was fantastic in net and our team responded when we needed them to.”

Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) gave the U.S. their first scoring opportunity of the evening just seconds into the game, attempting a wraparound chance that clipped the outstretched pad of Ann-Renee Desbiens.

With 12:56 remaining in the first, the U.S. earned the first power play of the evening, maintaining offensive possession throughout. Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) capitalized for the U.S. on a short-side backhand that hopped over Desbiens’ blocker, 1:09 into the power play. The tally marked her team-leading third goal of the series.

Philips kept Canada scoreless, stopping back-to-back chances by Sarah Nurse and Brianne Jenner on a Canadian power play 5:52 into the middle frame.

Philips once again closed the door in the waning minutes of the second, stopping a wrister from the point, before extending her pads to deny Sarah Fillier the rebound opportunity on the crease.

The final period opened with both teams playing tight defense, but the U.S. drew an extra-skater opportunity when Renata Fast tripped Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.) along the boards.

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME PHOTOS

On the power play, Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.) ripped a one-timer from the left circle just over the top of the boards, before Britta Curl-Salemme (Bismarck, N.D.) pushed a point-blank shot from just outside the crease just wide.

With 2:48 left in the game Canada pulled their goalie and found the back of the net just 20 seconds later to knot the game at 1-1 when Blayre Turnbull whacked a low shot under the pads of Philips, sending the game to a five-minute overtime period.

The pace in overtime was frenetic, but Philips stood tall sending the game to a shootout. In the shootout, Knight, Hannah Bilka (Coppell, Texas) and Pannek scored, while Philips blanked all three Canada shooters to win the game.

NOTES: Gwyneth Philip was named the U.S. player of the game … Canada outshot the U.S., 32-15 … Team USA was 1-3 on the power play, while Canada was 0-2.