EDMONTON — The United States women’s national hockey team won the 2025 Rivalry Series on Wednesday night with yet another dominant win over Team Canada.
Team Canada started strong, scoring 48 seconds into the game, but gave up four straight goals to close the opening period. That turned out to be the Canadians’ undoing because they tried to mount a comeback with three second-period goals, including two in the final 77 seconds of the frame, before fizzling out dramatically in the third period as the Americans pulled away for a 10-4 rout at Rogers Place.
It was Team USA’s third-straight win in this four-game series after outscoring Canada 10-2 in the first two games last month in Cleveland and Buffalo — and the Americans’ first series win at Rivalry since 2019-20. The fourth and final game of the Rivalry Series will be in Edmonton on Saturday night.
Gwyneth Philips made 30 saves, including 22 consecutively after Sarah Fillier’s opening-minute goal, before Canada turned up the pressure.
But the Americans got an impressive balance with eight different goal scorers — Kelly Pannek and Abbey Murphy scored twice, with Tessa Janecke, Jesse Compher, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Britta Curl-Salemme, Alex Carpenter and Kirsten Simms adding goals of their own.
Sixteen different players had at least a point. Murphy, who had a hat trick in the first game of the Rivalry Series in Cleveland, had four points, while Coyne Schofield and Pannek had three points each. The Americans went 2-for-3 on the power play and now have a whopping seven power-play goals in three games.
Sophie Jaques scored twice for Canada, while Julia Gosling also scored.
The s t r e t c h pass from Edwards to help tally our second goal 😲#RivalrySeries, presented by @Discover. pic.twitter.com/GHn9DPgjfM
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 11, 2025
For the players fighting to make the Canadian and American women’s Olympic hockey teams, these two games in Edmonton provide a final opportunity to punch their ticket to Milan. The games also mark the final tune-up before the two rivals meet on Feb. 10 in Italy. They are the favorites to meet in the gold-medal game Feb. 19.
Of the seven times women’s hockey has taken place in the Olympics, the Canadians have won five gold medals, last winning in 2022. The Americans have won two gold medals, last winning in 2018.
Takeaway ➡️ Breakaway for Kendall Coyne!#RivalrySeries, presented by @Discover. pic.twitter.com/crRfVTkKnd
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 11, 2025
Here’s what we learned on Wednesday.
The comeback that wasn’t
The Americans looked like they were going to cruise to another easy rout when Grace Zumwinkle set up Pannek for a beautiful goal and a 6-2 lead with 3:36 left in the second period.
But some of Canada’s Olympic hopefuls sparked a modest comeback attempt. In a span of 53 seconds, Gosling and Jaques scored to cut the deficit to two. Things ultimately fell apart (again) in the third, but it’s worth noting Jaques’ offense, given the roster battle she’s in.
Jaques, a two-time Walter Cup champion, is among the young defenders fighting for one of the few open spots on Canada’s blue line. She didn’t have a great showing at the first two games of the series, but had a strong showing on Wednesday with two goals and some looks on the power play. Eighteen-year-old Chloe Primerano, first-round pick Nicole Gosling and veteran Micah Zandee-Hart will also get looks for Olympic roster spots, but it’s fair to wonder if Jaques now has the inside track.
Gutsy challenge by the Americans
After Jaques’ second goal that pulled Canada within two in the waning seconds of the second period, United States coach John Wroblewski opted to challenge that Jennifer Gardiner interfered with Philips.
But after a lengthy review, the referees ruled it a good goal, and the deficit was suddenly 6-4 with the Canadiens going on a power play that carried over for 1:37 to start the third period.
Sophie strikes again! 🚨🚨
Et de deux pour Sophie! 🚨🚨#RivalrySeries | #SérieDeLaRivalitépic.twitter.com/yHTb5AeaRa
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 11, 2025
But the Americans got a huge kill with Carpenter and Panek both scoring shortly after to stop the bleeding and force coach Troy Ryan to use his timeout. It didn’t work as Simms scored the United States’ ninth goal soon after.