USA beat Canada again in game three of the Rivalry Series. Here's a look at two players who stood out from each roster.
USA beat Canada again in game three of the Rivalry Series. Here's a look at two players who stood out from each roster.
Canada and USA played to another tight finish with Hilary Knight scoring the overtime winner to give USA a 3-2 win, an a dominant 3-0 series lead.
Here's a look at the top performers from each team.
USA's Top Performers
Kirsten Simms - It was hard to miss the talented American, particularly after she stole a puck in Canada's zone, cruised across the slot and beat Ann-Renee Desbiens back across her body for her first career goal with USA's senior national team in her first career game. In the second period Simms got a good look against Desbiens and again beat her cleanly, but this time it the post. On the other side of the puck, she showed responsibility and a willingness to engage physically despite being one of the smaller players on the ice.
Abbey Murphy - There's an edge to Murphy's game that keeps everyone on their toes. She mixes speed and physicality, sometimes crossing that edge, but always generating chances, and shifting momentum with her play. She scored USA's second goal, assisted on the overtime winner, and may have been the best player on the ice for either team.
Canada's Top Performers
Danielle Serdachny - It was nice to see Canada's young players getting their time. Anne Cherkowski had a solid game up front for Canada, as did Julia Gosling and Jennifer Gardiner, but Serdachny asserted herself in various ways. She showed her willingness to engage physically and protected the puck well in battles against USA's defenders. She got Canada on the board first, and looks like she can provide an edge to Canada's lineup.
Emily Clark - She's played one role most of her career with Hockey Canada, but if there's a player who looks ready to break out in a big way, it's Clark. There's a reason she's a fan favorite, and in the PWHL this season, she'd be a good bet to electrify fans in Ottawa and fit among league leaders. While Canada still deployed her in a checking role, there's a jump in Clark's game and a completeness to her play that makes you believe she can do much more given the opportunity. It's truly hard to pick out a weakness in Clark's game. Among other attributes, she's never shy of going to the dirty areas of the ice, which is why she ended up scoring the tying goal for Canada.