Last month, the hockey world gathered for another incredible instalment of the game’s greatest rivalry. The Olympic gold-medal matchup in Beijing was everything we’ve come to expect whenever Canada and the United States meet on the international stage, complete with another golden goal courtesy of Marie-Philip Poulin.
Just 23 days later, Captain Clutch did it again.
In fact, even before Poulin’s overtime game-winner in Saturday’s Canada-USA Rivalry Rematch – a partnership between the PWHPA and the Pittsburgh Penguins, assembled in the wake of that Beijing final – the game followed the typical template we’ve come to expect when these two hockey nations face off.
You know the drill: Tied 1-1 after one. Tied 2-2 after two. Tied again after three, this one at 3-3. And while Poulin’s “golden” goal wasn’t the prettiest of her collection – it went in on a deflection off USA defender Megan Keller – it served as yet another reminder of just how clutch she is. As if we needed one.
Blayre Turnbull, Jocelyne Larocque, and Jamie-Lee Rattray scored in regulation for Canada, while Hilary Knight, Hannah Brandt, and Hayley Scamurra all scored for Team USA in the 4-3 Canadian OT win.
Here are more takeaways from a fun game in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon.
Rattray shines, Poulin puts on a passing clinic
The presence and performance of Team Canada forward Jamie Lee Rattray was one of the best stories of the women’s hockey tournament last month in Beijing. In her long-awaited Olympic debut, the 29-year-old shone throughout the lineup, her versatility on full display in every situation she was thrust into. Her hard work paid off once again Saturday when she was slotted in on the top line alongside Poulin and Brianne Jenner – and once again, she delivered. Midway through the third period and trailing 3-2 less than a minute after Scamurra gave Team USA the lead, Rattray scored on a gorgeous wrist shot after receiving a perfect pass from Poulin. (Her celebration was just as great.)
When we talk about Poulin, we usual focus on the goals – and rightly so, considering her track record – but in regulation play on Saturday, it was Poulin’s passing that was on full display. In addition to that gorgeous assist on Rattray’s goal, the captain had a nifty little spin-around setup to create a scoring opportunity for Jenner:
Knight brings the heat
As Team Canada forward Sarah Nurse stated during an intermission interview, Saturday’s game was the first time the team had skated since Beijing. And while the stakes of this exhibition were clearly not at Olympic levels, the pride on the line was evident.
“When you have Canada and the USA There’s no meaningless hockey,” Nurse said, also noting some rust all around in the first period. “This one is for our pride. We don’t want to leave the country without a win.”
Team USA forward Hilary Knight spoke of a similar sentiment pre-game.
“I think whenever Canada and USA step on the ice it is never just an exhibition game,” she said. “I think our storied history of this rivalry we developed over the last few decades really speaks for itself.”
Knight certainly brought that emotion early. Her first-period breakaway goal to tie things at 1-1 was the game’s standout highlight:
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Fillier, Zumwinkle, and other college stars sidelined
Saturday’s game was a rare event for women’s hockey – we’ve never been treated to a best-on-best rematch-style exhibition so soon after an Olympic tournament. It also brought some familiar sights considering all the players suiting up were the very ones we just watched go head-to-head in Beijing. Only, both rosters were without some of their brightest young stars.
On Team Canada, Sarah Fillier’s absence was felt after she played a starring role as a rookie in Beijing. She, along with fellow Canucks Emma Maltais and Ashton Bell, who also made their respective Olympic debuts last month, are all still in college and as such were not available to play in this game. They were, however, on site in Pittsburgh to participate in the pregame clinics – the stylish arrivals, of course.
This was also the case for several young Team USA stars. NCAA players Cayla Barnes, Caroline Harvey, Grace Zumwinkle, Jesse Compher, Abbey Murphy were all unable to play Saturday, which explains the Americans’ shortened bench – the team had just nine forwards and five defenders suit up Saturday.
One other notable absence for Team USA was, of course, Brianna Decker. Decker suffered a serious leg injury early in the Olympic tournament and will remain sidelined for a while yet.
Same rivalry, different stakes
Though the rivalry took centre stage, the overall feel of this game was centred around the power of collaboration and a collective goal – both between the players on the ice and all involved off it.
As the PWHPA continues its efforts to showcase its goal of creating a unified, NHL-backed, best-on-best women’s hockey league, the importance of capitalizing on the momentum and spotlight brought on by the Olympic success has been a massive talking point. The Penguins’ involvement gave us a glimpse of what happens when the PWHPA’s best-on-best vision comes to life on the platform it deserves.
Rivalry Rematch Takeaways: Captain clutch delivers once again in Canada-USA exhibition
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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