U. S. Women Crush Canada in Olympic Preliminaries

Coach John Wroblewski reminds the squad that a win is just one step toward gold, hinting at the long road ahead.

Match Highlights

• Score: U.S. 5, Canada 0
• Goal Breakdown:
• Caroline Harvey – 1 goal, 2 assists (still in school)
• Laila Edwards – first Olympic point
• Abbey Murphy (Minnesota) – 3 assists

• Kirsten Simms – hard‑hitting goal

• Defense & Goaltending:

• Aerin Frankel – 20 saves, first Olympic shutout

• Leadership:
• Hilary Knight – assist, career total now 32 points (tied U.S. record)

Context & Challenges

• Canada entered the game without star forward Marie‑Philip Poulin, who was injured in a prior win over Czechia.
• Coach Troy Ryan noted Canada’s struggles with puck control and careless errors, attributing them to Poulin’s absence.
• Ryan plans to evaluate Poulin after the next game, hoping she returns for the quarter‑finals.

Team Outlook

• The U.S. lineup blends seasoned veterans with fresh college talent, showcasing depth behind the offense.
• Despite the decisive victory, players remain cautious about claiming gold until the final match on February 19.
• Assistant captain Blayre Turnbull emphasized learning from mistakes and improving moving forward.

Broader Impact

• Canada’s loss underscores how dominant teams can falter when key players are sidelined.
• The U.S. now holds a seven‑game winning streak over Canada, dating back to last year’s world championships.