Canada struggled from the net out in the first game of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series, as a quick and youthful Team USA routed their opponent 7-2.
Canada struggled from the net out in the first game of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series, as a quick and youthful Team USA routed their opponent 7-2.
USA scored early and often in a 7-2 blowout win over Team Canada to open the 2024-25 Rivalry Series in San Jose.
USA's young stars handled Canada easily without Taylor Heise, Hilary Knight, or Hayley Scamurra in the lineup. Lacey Eden and Abbey Murphy both scored a pair for USA, with Laila Edwards and Tessa Janecke picking up multiple assists. Other USA goal scorers in the win were Savannah Harmon, Hannah Bilka, and Alex Carpenter.
Campbell Struggles Mightily In First Frame
Last year at this time, Kristen Campbell was struggling. Eventually she rebounded to win the PWHL's inaugural Goaltender of the Year award. Fast forward to the first game of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series, and Campbell looked to be back where she was a year ago. Canada showed confidence in Campbell starting her the first game of the series, but facing 17 shots in the first period, Campbell allowed five goals. The dagger was USA's fourth goal, which came off Lacey Eden's stick near the goal line from near the. boards. The puck beat Campbell short side, highlighting a night to forget for the Toronto Sceptres' netminder.
Defensive Zone Woes For Canada's Veterans
Canadian veterans Sarah Nurse and Brianne Jenner struggled on the defensive side of the puck for Canada. On USA's second goal of the game, Nurse pushed a puck loose and onto the stick of Britta Curl before taking herself out of the play. After a pass to Grace Zumwinkle, Jenner missed her coverage on Savannah Harmon who snuck by her pinching in from the blueline to put home Zumwinkle's pass. Jenner and Nurse again found themselves on the ice for Canada's third goal against, with Megan Keller firing a shot through Jenner and Nurse's paths. Nurse served as a screen on Campbell out front without finding her coverage. On goal four of the night for USA, Nurse lost a battle in the neutral zone that also saw Jenner streaking well ahead of the play without Canada in possession. While it was a bad shot from Eden that scored, neither player saw Abbey Murphy getting to the net had there been a rebound. USA's seventh goal of the game saw Murphy connect on a similar run, and it was again Jenner who did not spot Murphy in time.
USA Too Quick For Canada
When you watched Abbey Murphy darting through coverage, Lacey Eden and Alex Carpenter separating from checkers, and the persistent pressure and checking of USA's current NCAA cohort, USA was simply too quick for Canada. Canada had no answer for USA's relentless puck pursuit, nor for the ability of the American squad to rapidly transition with speed.
Canada's Blueline Looked Off
Canada strayed from some of the defensive pairings that saw success at the World Championships, and didn't invite Nicole Gosling, who was one of the more reliable defenders for Canada in her own zone at Worlds. On the second goal of the game Ashton Bell found herself on the wrong side of the puck and flat footed in her own zone which ended with Harmon's goal. To close out the period, Bell looked to transition the puck up ice but had it stripped near her own blueline which quickly turned into an Alex Carpenter goal. Claire Thompson, who was playing in her first official game since the 2023 World Championships, looked like she had a bit of rust to shake off defensively. Her skating and puck skills looked sharp, but her timing looked off, and micro step behind, as she attempted to close gaps and take away lanes.