Team USA loses Game 5 of Rival Series, Game 7 in St. Paul on Sunday

Saskatoon, Sask. – The U.S. Women’s National Team lost a 4-2 decision to Canada in Game 5 of the 2023-24 Rivals Series at Sasktel Center, but maintained a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven contest. .

Game 6 will be played Friday (February 9) at the Brant Center in Regina, Saskatchewan, with the opener set for 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on NHL Network in the United States.

“They deserved to win tonight,” he said. John Roblewski (Neenah, Wis.), head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. “We tried our best in this game, but we lost at the end. We’re fully prepared for Game 6.”

Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.) gave Team USA the lead less than three minutes into the game. After a scuffle in front of the net left the puck in the crease, Zumwinkle smashed it in for his first goal in the 2023-24 Rivals Series.

In less than a minute, nicole hensley (Lakewood, Colorado) thwarted a secession attempt by Canada’s Emily Clark to maintain U.S. supremacy.

The game remained 1-0 until the first inning, despite multiple power plays by the U.S. and good performance by Canada.

Early in the second, Canada decided on a power play. Natalie Spooner took a shot from the right point that hit Hensley, but Brian Jenner was waiting to pick up the rebound off Hensley’s left pad.

Gabby Hughes (Lino Lakes, Minnesota), the United States led 2-1 near the end of the second half. After going behind the net, abby rock (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) found Hughes on her doorstep, once breaking the five-hole of Canadian netminder Anne-Renee Desbiens.

After winning a faceoff with 8:31 left in the final frame, Canada tied the game when Ashton Bell fired a one-timer from just above the circle past Hensley. Less than three minutes later, Renata Fast scored Canada’s go-ahead goal from nearly the same spot as Bell.

Laura Stacey added an empty net goal with 54 minutes remaining to make the final 4-2.

Note: Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) was named the United States Player of the Year…Canada outscored the United States 28-16…Team USA went 0-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

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