Uh oh Canada: USA is destroying us in women's hockey ahead of Olympics
Team Canada is getting absolutely outclassed by the United States in their final tune-up before the Winter Olympics.
The Rivalry series arrived in Edmonton on Wednesday night with Canada looking to avenge two previous losses to the USA. The Americans came into the night having outscored the Canadians by a 10-2 margin through the first two games of the four-game series.
This was the first game of this year’s series to be played on Canadian soil, but that didn’t seem to matter much. Team USA wound up continuing their dominance, blowing out Canada to the tune of a 10-4 victory in front of a shocked Rogers Place crowd.
It wasn’t exactly the type of performance you’d want from a Canadian squad looking to defend its Olympic gold medal in less than two months.
“Right now, we have a choice,” said veteran Jocelyne Larocque after the game. “We have a choice to learn, to get better, to just play Canadian hockey, and that wasn’t Canadian hockey today.
“There are moments where we did well, but it can’t just be moments.”
Canada managed to make things close going into the third period, rallying with two late goals to make it a 6-4 game. They failed to convert on a power play early in the final frame, which led to the Americans taking back control with four unanswered goals to put this one out of reach.
Defenceman Sophie Jaques led the way for Canada, notching two goals on the night. Abby Murphy was the standout for the Americans with two goals and four points in the victory.
It was the first time that the Canadian Women’s National Team had ever allowed 10 goals against in a single game. The series through three games now reads like a nightmare for the Canadians:
- Game 1:Ā 4-1 (USA)
- Game 2:Ā 6-1 (USA)
- Game 3:Ā 10-2 (USA)
The Americans have claimed victory in this year’s Rivalry Series, winning three of the four games. They will still play the fourth and final game of the series in Edmonton on Saturday night.
It will be Canada’s last chance to show its stuff against the USA before the puck drops in Milan.