Taylor Heise Shines As Usa Women Rout Canada 4–1 In Rivalry Series Opener

Taylor Heise scored and group up each of Abbey Murphy’s 3 goals, and nan United States women’s nationalist lucky squad opened nan pre-Olympic Rivalry Series pinch a 4-1 triumph complete Canada connected Thursday night.

Laila Edwards had an assistance successful her Cleveland homecoming, pinch her changeable from nan correct constituent deflected successful by Heise midway done nan first period. The 21-year-old Edwards is simply a forward-turned-defenseman from Cleveland Heights, and nan first Black female subordinate to skate for Team USA.

Projected US starter Aerin Frankel stopped 26 shots, and nan Americans person won 3 consecutive against their cross-border rivals. The tally dates to a two-game expanse of Canada astatine nan world championships successful nan Czech Republic successful April, including a 4-3 overtime triumph successful nan title game.

Sarah Fillier scored for Canada. Eve Gascon stopped 22 shots successful her Canadian nationalist squad debut. The University of Minnesota-Duluth inferior sewage nan commencement pinch coach Troy Ryan going pinch a younger lineup. Canada near respective veterans astatine location to remainder up, including goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens.

The teams meet again successful Buffalo, New York, connected Saturday. The four-game bid betwixt nan world powers past concludes pinch 2 games successful Edmonton, Alberta, adjacent month.

While nan Americans are nan defending world champs, nan Canadians are nan defending Olympic champions, winning their 5th golden astatine nan 2022 Beijing Games.

USA’s Laila Edwards skates for nan puck successful beforehand of Canada's Katie Tabin successful nan 3rd period. Photograph: Sue Ogrocki/AP

After Fillier and Heise traded goals 16 seconds apart, nan Americans past blew nan crippled unfastened successful nan 2nd play erstwhile Murphy one-timed successful a brace of Heise passes. Murphy past completed her chapeau instrumentality by tipping successful Heise’s walk done nan mediate for a power-play extremity 1:54 into nan 3rd period.

Edwards is simply a elder astatine Wisconsin and preparing to make her Olympic debut astatine nan Milano Cortina Games successful February.

She was honored by taking nan ceremonial opening faceoff against Canadian skipper Marie-Philip Poulin, and successful nan lineup 3 weeks aft being sidelined by a near knee injury.

She has already won a nationalist title pinch nan Badgers, a world title golden badge successful April and was named nan world title MVP successful 2024, erstwhile nan US mislaid to Canada successful her tourney debut astatine Utica, New York.

Edwards was besides wowed a nighttime earlier upon seeing nan NBA’s Cavaliers post a image connected X of erstwhile prima Larry Nance arriving for their location crippled against Philadelphia wearing Edwards’ No 10 USA lucky jersey. She recovered retired astir it while having meal pinch family astatine her puerility home, and joined by US and Wisconsin teammate Caroline Harvey.