Lead
On Feb. 10, 2026 in Milan the United States women’s ice hockey team routed Canada 5-0 in a preliminary-round game, sweeping its group and finishing 4-0 in the opening stage. The win, highlighted by Bilka’s two goals and Caroline Harvey’s one goal and two assists, left the Americans firmly positioned for the knockout rounds but cautioned by coach John Wroblewski that the tournament’s toughest work remains ahead. Canada played without captain Marie-Philip Poulin because of a lower-body injury and struggled with puck management and penalties. The U.S. will open the quarterfinals against host Italy, having outscored opponents 20-1 across the preliminary slate.
Key Takeaways
- The United States defeated Canada 5-0 on Feb. 10, 2026, in Milan and closed the preliminary round 4-0 with a combined score of 20-1.
- Bilka scored two goals in the game, while Caroline Harvey added one goal and two assists and Abbey Murphy registered three assists.
- Goaltender Aerin Frankel stopped 20 shots for her third win and second shutout of the tournament; Hilary Knight recorded her 32nd Olympic point to tie a U.S. mark.
- Canada played without captain Marie-Philip Poulin following a lower-body injury sustained in the 5-1 win over Czechia and faced penalty trouble during the match.
- Laila Edwards scored her first Olympic goal in her debut and became the first Black woman to represent the United States in Olympic women’s hockey.
- Desbiens allowed five goals on 27 shots and was replaced late in the game by Emerance Maschmeyer, who finished with five saves.
- The U.S. has now beaten Canada in seven consecutive meetings dating to April’s world championships, reversing the 2022 gold-medal-era balance.
Background
The U.S.-Canada rivalry is the defining matchup in women’s ice hockey, with both nations often meeting in the late stages of world championships and Olympics. Historically Canada and the United States have exchanged gold medals and decisive wins, including Canada rolling to the 2022 Beijing Olympic title. Entering Milan, the Americans were favored on the strength of depth, a mix of experienced veterans and high-level collegiate talent, and a dominant pre-tournament run that included a sweep of an exhibition Rivalry Series.
Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, a rain-tinged venue with an 11,600 capacity, hosted the contest amid a partisan crowd that initially supported the Maple Leaf but quickly heard the U.S. goal song after early American strikes. The Olympic format places significant value on preliminary seeding: a clean 4-0 group result both secures top positioning and preserves roster energy for knockout rounds that begin immediately after pool play.
Main Event
The sequence opened early when Caroline Harvey drove in from the left point 3:45 into the game and beat Ann-Renee Desbiens with a snap shot. Later in the first period Abbey Murphy chased down a pass in the right corner, spun and delivered a no-look feed that Bilka converted on a rush to make it 2-0, signaling the U.S. speed that repeatedly pressured Canada.
Simms pushed the margin to 3-0 early in the second period by jamming the puck across the goal line, and Murphy again set up Bilka for a one-timer a few minutes later. Desbiens remained in goal until late in the third period, when Laila Edwards scored her first Olympic goal with 8:07 remaining; Desbiens was then replaced by Emerance Maschmeyer, who closed the game with five saves.
Throughout the match the U.S. displayed quick transition play, effective forechecking and disciplined finishing, with seven players on roster still in college contributing to the attack. Frankel’s 20 saves and the defensive group kept Canada off the scoreboard, while Hilary Knight added an assist to tie the U.S. Olympic point record previously held by Jenny Potter.
Analysis & Implications
Strategically, the result underlines an ongoing shift in balance when both sides meet. The Americans have integrated younger talent without losing veteran leadership, and the blend has produced attacking depth that forces opponents into mistakes and penalty trouble. For Canada, the absence of Marie-Philip Poulin removed a primary offensive fulcrum and late-game clutch option; her lower-body injury may complicate Canada’s short-term plans pending further evaluation.
Psychologically, a lopsided preliminary result favors the United States in momentum and confidence, but coach Wroblewski’s caution about the descent from success highlights an important tournament truth: early wins do not guarantee gold, and pressure often intensifies in single-elimination matches. The U.S. will still need to manage physical and mental loads across the quarterfinal and potential semifinal before reaching the Feb. 19 gold-medal game.
For Canada, the focus will be on tactical repair: tightening puck management, reducing avoidable turnovers and cleaning up penalty timing. Any return timeline for Poulin will shape lineup choices and special-teams strategies; Canada must also guard against a loss of confidence after a rare shutout defeat in Olympic play.
Comparison & Data
| Measure | United States | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Score in Milan (Feb. 10) | 5 | 0 |
| Preliminary round total (four games) | 20 goals for, 1 against | Varied; lost this game 0-5 |
| Key contributors in game | Bilka 2 goals; Caroline Harvey 1G, 2A; Abbey Murphy 3A; Aerin Frankel 20 saves | Desbiens allowed 5 goals on 27 shots; Maschmeyer 5 saves |
| Notable milestones | Hilary Knight tied U.S. Olympic point record (32) | Missing captain Marie-Philip Poulin due to injury |
The table summarizes available, confirmed game-level measures and tournament aggregates for the United States. Where full seeding and total Canadian prelim aggregates are not literally supplied by game accounts, the table confines itself to verified game facts to avoid overreach. The U.S. advantage in goal differential and depth of contributors is clear from these figures.
Reactions & Quotes
United States coach John Wroblewski tempered celebration by reminding players and observers that a dominant preliminary result is only a stage in a longer climb toward gold. His perspective framed the win as meaningful yet provisional, with the real test lying in the tournament’s knockout phase.
‘What’s the hardest part of climbing the mountain? Getting home’
John Wroblewski, U.S. head coach
Canada’s coach Troy Ryan offered a candid critique of his team’s performance, pointing to puck management and execution as areas that failed to meet tournament standards. He also outlined the immediate medical uncertainty around Poulin, noting a reassessment timeline that could affect Canada’s lineups for the remaining preliminary match and the quarterfinal.
‘We just didn’t play very well at all. Irresponsible with the puck’
Troy Ryan, Canada head coach
Players from the U.S. emphasized team cohesion and the rewarding experience of playing behind solid defense and goaltending. Aerin Frankel described the match as fun and complimented the team’s speed and skill, speaking to the morale and on-ice execution that supported a shutout.
‘Our team’s making my life pretty easy. It’s been so much fun to play behind them’
Aerin Frankel, U.S. goaltender
Unconfirmed
- Exact return date for Marie-Philip Poulin remains unconfirmed; team medical reassessment was reported but a definitive timeline for her availability was not announced.
- Longer-term implications of Desbiens’ late pull for Canada are unconfirmed; coaching staff described the change as situational rather than diagnostic.
Bottom Line
The United States’ 5-0 victory over Canada in Milan is a strong statement of form: dominant defense, effective goaltending and balanced scoring make the Americans clear favorites on current evidence. Yet coaching comments and tournament structure counsel prudence — a short single-elimination phase still separates the U.S. from gold, and momentum can shift quickly in knockout hockey.
For Canada, the loss is a diagnostic moment: a high-profile defeat that highlights dependency on core playmakers and the need for immediate tactical adjustments ahead of the quarterfinals. The evolution of Marie-Philip Poulin’s injury status and Canada’s response in puck management will be decisive in determining whether this result is an outlier or the start of a deeper tournament challenge.