Always heated, the stakes in the latest Rivalry Series are even higher.
The U.S. women’s hockey games against archrival Canada this week are the final chance for coaches to evaluate players before the 2026 Olympic team is named next month. There are 30 players on the Rivalry Series roster, 27 skaters and three goaltenders.
But Olympic rosters have only 23 spots, with three going to goaltenders, so you do the math.
‘I remember in 2022 for the process, I was like, ‘I just want to get there.’ I didn’t take advantage of the team bonding, of the team dinners, of the practices. I didn’t see it as one step at a time. I saw it as one big leap,’ said forward Taylor Heise, one of the last cuts ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
‘Now I’m taking advantage of being here, every time you’re together. It’s such an honor because you never know what it’s going to be a last time,’ Heise added. ‘Many people can say that, but until you have had it taken away from you, it’s really hard to understand.’
The USA won the first two games, 4-1 and 6-1. USA TODAY is providing live updates from today’s Rivalry Series game between the USA and Canada. Follow along:
End of second: USA 6, Canada 4
Anyone who thought Canada was going to go down without a fight hasn’t experienced the Rivalry Series before.
Canada scored three goals in the second period, including two in a 54-second span, to cut the U.S. lead to 6-4 going into the final period.
‘The Canada-USA rivalry is insane,’ Abbey Murphy said of the frenzy of goals.
The Americans dominated their archrivals in the first two games, and this looked like more of the same early. After Sarah Fillier scored 48 seconds into the first period, the Americans scored five unanswered goal. Sophie Jaques finally ended the U.S. run, scoring 13:01 into the second period. Kelly Panek extended the U.S. lead again, to 6-3, before Julia Gosling and Jaques kept the game from getting out of hand.
Gosling scored a power-play goal 18:43 into the period, and Jaques followed with her second goal of the night 19:47 into the period.
Despite trailing, Canada has outshot the Americans 30-21.
Canada scores two quick goals
We’ve got ourselves a game again.
Julia Gosling and Sophie Jaques scored in a 54-second span to cut the U.S. lead to 6-4 as the second period is winding down. Gosling scored first, on a power play 18:43 into the second period. Jaques followed 19:43 into the period. It was her second goal of the game.
Officials took an extended look at Jacques goal after the Americans challenged, arguing that Jaques had made contact with U.S. goalkeeper Gwyneth Philips. But officials decided Jaques was outside the crease when the contact occurred, and a loud cheer went up when the goal was confirmed. The USA goes short-handed because of the lost challenge.
Kelly Panek adds to USA lead
The U.S. women better hope they’re not using up all their goals before the Olympics.
Kelly Panek is the latest American to get on the score sheet, scoring 16:24 into the second period to give the U.S. a 6-2 lead. She’s the sixth U.S. woman with a goal in Game 3, following Tessa Janecke, Abbey Murphy, Jesse Compher, Kendall Coyne-Schofield and Britta Curl-Saleme.
Canada gets one back
Sophie Jaques got Canada back in the game.
After the Americans had scored five unanswered goals, Jaques scored 13:01 into the second period to cut the U.S. lead to 5-2. This is the first time in the first three Rivalry Games that Canada has had a multi-goal game. The U.S. women won the first two games 4-1 and 6-1.
USA scores again, chases Canada goalie
And you get a goal! And you get a goal!
Britta Curl-Salemme scored 11:10 into the second period to give the U.S. women a 5-1 lead over Canada. She’s the fifth different American to score — a bit of a change from the first two games, which both featured hat tricks. Abbey Murphy had three goals in the first game and Hilary Knight matched her in the second.
Curl-Salemme’s goal resulted in a change in net for the Canadians. Ann-Renee Desbiens, Canada’s longtime starter, was replaced by Emerance Maschmeyer.
Canada power play
Cayla Barnes is in the penalty box for the next two minutes for cross-checking.
Barnes shoved Sarah Fillier in the back 6:55 into the second period. It’s only the second penalty of the night for the U.S. women.
The USA kills it off. Gwyneth Philips stops Natalie Spooner on a breakaway.
Second period underway
USA leads 4-1 despite being outshot 17-10 in the first period. The Americans are on a power play to start the period, but Canada kills it off.
End of first: USA 4, Canada 1
The Americans aren’t letting up.
After Canada managed just two goals in the first two games of the Rivalry Series, it looked as if this one might be different when the Canadians scored 48 seconds into the game. With Canadian stalwart Ann-Renee Desbiens returning to goal, the momentum seemed to have shifted in Canada’s favor.
But the Americans rebounded with a vengeance, scoring four goals over the last 12:11 of the first period.
Tessa Janecke got the Americans on the board first, scoring just as time on a power play was about to expire 7:49 into the game. Abbey Murphy got her fourth goal of the series, scoring 11:47 into the period.
And then things got crazy. Jesse Compher got her own rebound and found the net on her second try, making it 3-1 18:18 into the game. Thirty-nine seconds later, Kendall Coyne Schofield made it 4-1.
That gives the U.S. women 14 goals in the first two-plus games of this edition of the Rivalry Series.
USA scores two quick goals
The goalfest continues for the U.S. women.
Jesse Compher scored 18:18 into the first period to give the Americans a 3-1 lead over their archrival. The teams were barely off the faceoff when Kendall Coyne Schofield made it 4-1 on a breakaway.
The Americans have now scored four unanswered goals after Canada took a 1-0 lead 48 seconds into the game.
Big USA save
Gwyneth Philips stops Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin on a breakaway.
USA kills off penalty
The USA’s Kirsten Simms was whistled for boarding 13:08 into the first period. Canada gets five shots on goal on the power play but can’t capitalize.
Abbey Murphy gives USA lead
Abbey Murphy is on the board again.
Murphy, who had a hat trick in the first game of the Rivalry Series, scored 10:47 into the first period on a breakaway to give the U.S. women a 2-1 lead over Canada. Her goal, assisted by Laila Edwards and Alex Carpenter, came just two minutes after Tessa Janecke had scored to even it up.
USA ties it up
The U.S. women took advantage of a power play.
With four seconds left in Emily Clark’s 2-minute penalty for interference, Tessa Janecke went backdoor to even the game 1-1 at 7:49. Abbey Murphy and Taylor Heise had assists on the goal, which came after a faceoff.
That’s the fifth assist of the Rivalry Series for Heise.
USA on power play
The first penalty of the night goes to Canada. Emily Clark was given two minutes for interference with 15:08 to play in the first period.
Canada takes quick lead
Well that didn’t take long.
Less than a minute into the game and Canada has a 1-0 lead, courtesy of a goal from Sarah Fillier at 48 seconds. Ella Shelton had the puck on the left side and sent a pass toward the goalmouth, where Fillier flicked it past US goaltender Gwyneth Philips. It’s only the third goal for the Canadians in this edition of the Rivalry Series.
Game underway
USA leads 2-0 in the series.
What time is USA vs Canada Rivalry Series game today?
The USA and Canada will play at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. The teams will play again in Edmonton at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.
When is Rivalry Series game? How to watch, TV channel
- Date: Dec. 10, 2025
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alberta)
- TV: NHL Network
- Streaming: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Watch US women’s hockey vs. Canada on Fubo
Goaltending matchup
USA’s Gwyneth Philips vs. Canada’s Ann-Renee Desbiens
Team Canada lines
Team USA’s top line remains same
We’re getting a good idea of what US women’s coach John Wroblewski is thinking as far as his lineup.
Once again, Tessa Janecke, Alex Carpenter and Hilary Knight are the forwards on the No. 1 line while Megan Keller and Laila Edwards are on defense. That line has not changed in the first three games of the Rivalry Series.
Wroblewski has been experimenting with different forward combinations on the second line, with Taylor Heise the only constant in the first three games. No surprise, she has a goal and four assists after the first two games.
Team USA lines
Who is playing in the Rivalry Series?
While Canada has kept the core of its 2022 team, the U.S. women will bring a mixture of veterans and new stars to Milano Cortina.
Hilary Knight, arguably the greatest player ever, has said Milano Cortina will be her final Olympics, while Kendall Coyne Schofield is trying to make her fourth Olympic team.
The younger players are equally exciting. Caroline Harvey, who made her Olympic debut in Beijing, has either won best Defenseman Honors or been on the All-Star Team at every world championships since 2022. Taylor Heise (2022) and Laila Edwards (2024), who would be making their Olympic debuts, were both MVPs at the world championships.
Results of second USA-Canada game
Hilary Knight had a hat trick and Laila Edwards had a goal and two assists in the second Rivalry Series game, which the Americans won 6-1.
Kelly Pannek and Hayley Scamurra also had goals in the second game.
Results of first USA-Canada game
Abbey Murphy had a hat trick and Taylor Heise had a goal and three assists in the first Rivalry Series game, which the Americans won 4-1.
What is the Rivalry Series?
Now in its sixth season, the Rivalry Series features the U.S. and Canadian women’s national teams. This year’s edition consists of four games, two in the United States and two in Canada.
The U.S. women won the first two games, played last month in Cleveland and Buffalo, New York, handily.
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