MILAN — The United States women’s hockey team sized up its rival and toughest competition in the 2026 Olympic Games Tuesday night.
It went about the same as their first three matchups.
Capping their preliminary round schedule with a convincing 5-0 win over Canada Tuesday night at Santagiulia Arena, Team USA remained undefeated since arriving in Milan and topped the Group A bracket with a 4-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record heading into the quarterfinal rounds.
The Americans have scored a staggering 20 times since the games began. Canada, Switzerland, Finland and Czechia combined for a single goal against the United States, which has not allowed a goal since 8:37 into the second period of their opening win over Czechia.
A notable and critical piece of Canada’s lineup was missing. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin was ruled out a few hours before puck drop due to a lower-body injury she suffered in Canada’s game against Czechia Monday night. She’s officially classified as day-to-day, per Hockey Canada.
There’s no doubt Captain Clutch’s absence changed the look of Team Canada, but the U.S. has dominated every nation that’s taken the ice in front of them.
Hannah Bilka scored her second and third goals of the Olympics, while Abbey Murphy — who competes at the University of Minnesota as a graduate student — led Team USA with three assists.
After recording the secondary assist on Carolne Harvey’s first-period score, Hilary Knight also tied Jenny Potter for the most career points in U.S. Olympic women’s hockey history.
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
“USA!” chants erupted inside Santagiulia following Murphy’s wicked turnaround feed to Bilka for the 2-0 lead.
Canada did all it could to get the United States’ third goal taken off the board. The goal was upheld after a lengthy review of the sequence — in which Kirsten Simms jammed the puck in on the power play – but Canada head coach Troy Ryan still challenged for goalie interference.
Presuming the play was already examined for goalie interference, Ryan’s decision to challenge was ill-advised. It was ultimately unsuccessful and resulted in a power play for Team USA.
Once Laila Edwards made it a 5-0 game in the third period, Canada goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens got the hook in favor of Emerance Maschmeyer.
The Americans owned the preliminary round. The Canadians have just one more game against Finland before the single-elimination format kicks in.
Perhaps they will meet again, with a medal on the line.
