Three Takeaways From Game One Of The Rivalry Series

Game one of the Canada USA Rivalry Series is in the books with Team USA taking a 3-1 win over Canada in Tempe, Arizona. There was plenty to glean from the performances on both sides of the puck in game one, and as the team's prepare for another game Saturday in Los Angeles.

Here's three takeaways from game one of the Rivalry Series.

Canada's most consistent line, who made an impact each time they stepped on the ice consisted of the versatile Jamie Lee Rattray, and two players who weren't on Canada's most recent World Championship roster, Julia Gosling and Jessie Eldridge. 

Rattray was relentless in her puck pursuit and forced errors on the American side, while Eldridge found herself on the doorstep multiple times with prime scoring chances, and also flashed exceptional puck protection throughout the game. Her ability to take pucks, and immediately pivot to protect opened ice for her linemates and gave her new looks. Gosling showed the skillset that has made her dominant this season with St. Lawrence in the NCAA. She found herself as a net front presence on Canada's powerplay, and she was a physical force along the boards and in the corners that surprised American defenders.

Canada had to appreciate the efforts of this line, as other Canadian stars like Sarah Fillier and Marie-Philip Poulin were largely invisible in the game. There were also uncharacteristic lapses on the blueline, including from stalwart Jocelyne Larocque who found herself on the end of bobbles multiple times. Overall, however, Canada held the play, but could not solve American netminder Aerin Frankel.

The players driving play for Team USA continue to be their NCAA athletes. Up front it was Abbey Murphy, Hannah Bilka, and Britta Curl who were often involved in creating opportunities for USA, with recent grad and soon to be pro Taylor Heise as the other driver. On the blueline, the absence of Caroline Harvey (and veteran Lee Stecklein) was managed on the blueline. Cayla Barnes played key minutes for USA on the backend and was a noticeable contributor both on the powerplay, and in her competitiveness in her own zone.

It was often the lines featuring USA's youth, including Lacey Eden, Grace Zumwinkle, and Tessa Janecke who kept Canada deep in their zone, and USA will add another young player, Laila Edwards, to that mix on Saturday. She was not named to USA national pool, but USA will only be able to keep Kirsten Simms out of their lineup for so long. She's currently leading the NCAA in scoring, and would instantly be one of the most skilled players on the ice for either nation. 

In the 2022-2023 Rivalry Series, USA jumped out to a commanding series lead using the same youthful group, but as Canada's stars got into game shape, the tides shifted. Will it be the same this year?

Presumably, the Rivalry Series will have less meaning when it comes to selecting Canada and USA's national team in the future, as top brass will have regular head-to-head competition to scout in the PWHL. Perhaps where that will matter most is in net. Aerin Frankel was spectacular for USA in game one of the Rivalry Series stopping 35 shots in the win. USA might give game two to someone else, but it's Frankel's crease now. She plays an agile and unorthodox style that Canada could not solve.

At the other end of the net, Emerance Maschmeyer made a number of key saves, but when you look at the final stat line and see a save percentage under .900, it's not a number that will beat Team USA. Giving her the opportunity in the absence of Ann-Renee Desbiens makes sense, but Canada could be using this opportunity to test if another netminder has what it takes to emerge as an option. Troy Ryan and Gina Kingsbury will soon be seeing Canada's recent third stringer Kristen Campbell in regular action with PWHL Toronto, but it was Corinne Schroeder, who was Canada's top goalie at the Fall selection camp, where she didn't allow a goal, who would be worth a chance between the pipes. She was the PHF's Goaltender of the Year last season posting a 19-1-0 record with seven shutouts, a 1.67 GAA and .955 save percentage as a professional rookie.