Members of USA Hockey gather after a victory in the Rivalry Series. (Photo Credit: USA Hockey Twitter Page)
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Happy Friday! A short one this week, just recapping the first Rivalry Series game and giving you all a handful of links to peruse while we wait for the next PHF and PWHPA games.
Team USA beat Team Canada in the first game of the 2022-2023 Rivalry Series, ultimately triumphing in the shootout, 4-3. Nicole Hensley was in great form, particularly in the shootout itself, although she also saved a penalty shot in OT against Poulin which is one of the most impressive individual feats I can imagine for any goaltender. Look how patient she was:
Nicole Hensley with her biggest save of the game, as she stops Marie-Philip Poulin's penalty shot in overtime pic.twitter.com/5ar5bTITaz
Hannah Brandt scored the first goal of the game with a crazy rip from the blueline in the first period. Early in the second, Hilary Knight doubled Team USA’s lead off a great pass from Alex Carpenter.
Team Canada then scored two goals in just under a minute, one from Claire Thompson at 4v4, and one from Marie-Philip Poulin off of an equally beautiful pass from Elizabeth Giguere.
Giguere with the royal road pass to Poulin, and just like that the score is tied 2-2 pic.twitter.com/aJlX22usvf
Emily Clark and Alex Carpenter both scored in the third period, so the teams went to overtime, as they often do. Poulin drew a penalty shot in overtime as you saw above, but Hensley kept Team USA alive, and her teammates pulled through for her in the shootout.
Some very smart friends of mine launched Cap Besties recently, a website where you can see the PHF salary details that are currently known to the public.
