"Everyone Was Kind Of Going On All Cylinders" As USA Finds Their Gear In Michigan

After falling to Canada in Game 1 of a two-game series, the United States bounced back in a major way in Game 2 on Friday in Plymouth, Michigan.

USA put in a dominant performance shutting out Canada 4-0, while holding the Canadians to only 13 shots. Canada still had their chances, but Ottawa Charge netminder Gwyneth Philips was up to the task. Philips, who earned the shutout, said Team USA could feel the home crowd in Plymouth, Michigan behind them, and that her team was ready after suffering a 5-3 loss Wednesday in Windsor.

The energy from the crowd was there today it's really fun to get to play on home soil," said Philips.

"As a team we know how big this game was going to be coming back from a loss and I think we knew that and we showed up."

In the opening frame, Éve Gascon made 10 stops for Canada to keep the score tied 0-0 through the first. On the power play, it took USA only 57 seconds to break that deadlock in the second period as a netfront Tessa Janecke hd a Caroline Harvey shot bounce off her body and in. 

Less than four minutes later, Joy Dunne doubled USA's lead on a wrap around goal.

Before the frame was out, Kirsten Simms took a pass in the slot from Rory Guilday and ripped a shot over the glove of Gascon.

In the third, Taylor Fox slipped a through the legs pass to Caroline Harvey whose attempt to bank a puck off Gascon ended up on the stick of Tessa Janecke who extended USA's lead to 4-0, which is how the game would end.

In the end, our different scorers hit the sheet, and Harvey and Laila Edwards each recorded a pair of helpers.

According to Hilary Knight, USA shook their rust off in Game 1, which made their Game 2 win, where things really started to come together, feel even better.

"I think we were just shaking the rust off, we had a slow start and just trying to feel the game out a little bit. I think that's what makes this win better because it really did feel like a team win," said Knight.

"Everyone was kind of going on all cylinders and that's what you want, especially going into a major international tournament it's best-on-best, I really like the way our group bounced back from the other day."

Both teams will now travel to Denmark ahead of the start of the 2026 World Championships on November 6.