Abbey Murphy's hat trick leads U.S. women past Canada in Rivalry Series opener

John Wawrow · The Associated Press

· Posted: Nov 06, 2025 9:46 PM EST | Last Updated: November 7

On a nighttime Taylor Heise and Abbey Murphy combined for 4 goals successful Team USA women's hockey Rivalry Series-opening 4-1 triumph implicit Canada, the forwards deferred the spotlight to teammate Laila Edwards.

"Queen of Cleveland," Heise said Thursday night. "That's what we've been calling her each week."

The 21-year-old Edwards took halfway signifier successful her homecoming by getting the loudest cheers erstwhile her sanction was announced. She was invited by skipper Hilary Knight to instrumentality the ceremonial opening faceoff against Canada skipper Marie-Philip Poulin. And to apical it off, Edwards had the superior assistance connected the American's archetypal goal.

"I conscionable felt the electricity," Edwards said of her constituent changeable that was tipped successful by Heise to necktie the people astatine 1 midway done the archetypal period. "I was ace excited and benignant of shocked And the lights went disconnected and I was like, `This is awesome.'"

Edwards is simply a forward-turned-defenseman from Cleveland Heights, and the archetypal Black pistillate subordinate to skate for Team USA.

And up until past weekend, the Wisconsin elder wasn't definite if she would beryllium capable to play. Edwards wounded her genu successful a assemblage crippled 3 weeks agone and is inactive wearing a brace.

"Incredible. She deserves each spot of (the attention)," Murphy said. "Super chill to person the metropolis down her."

Heise scored and acceptable up each of Murphy's 3 goals. Projected U.S. starter Aerin Frankel stopped 26 shots, and the Americans person won 3 consecutive against their cross-border rival. The tally dates to a two-game expanse of Canada astatine the satellite championships successful the Czech Republic successful April, including a 4-3 overtime triumph successful the rubric game.

WATCH | Murphy sinks Canada:

Fillier nets Canada's lone goal

Sarah Fillier scored for Canada. Eve Gascon stopped 22 shots successful her Canadian nationalist squad debut. The University of Minnesota-Duluth inferior got the commencement with manager Troy Ryan going with a younger lineup. Canada near respective veterans astatine location to remainder up, including goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens.

The teams conscionable again successful Buffalo, New York, connected Saturday. The four-game bid betwixt the planetary powers past concludes with 2 games successful Edmonton, Alberta, adjacent month.

While the Americans are the defending satellite champs, the Canadians are the defending Olympic champions, winning their 5th golden astatine the 2022 Beijing Games.

"If you cognize this group, we don't similar to lose, and it decidedly stings a bit," Fillier said. "So, yeah, we conscionable got to instrumentality what we tin from this game, larn a lot, and hopefully nonstop a connection successful Buffalo."

After Fillier and Heise traded goals 16 seconds apart, the Americans blew the crippled unfastened successful the 2nd play erstwhile Murphy one-timed successful a brace of Heise passes. Murphy past completed her chapeau instrumentality by tipping successful Heise's walk done the mediate for a power-play extremity 1:54 into the 3rd period.

Edwards is each but a fastener to marque her Olympic debut astatine the Milan-Cortina Games successful February.

She has already won a nationalist title with the Badgers, a satellite title golden medal successful April and was named the satellite title MVP successful 2024, erstwhile the U.S. mislaid to Canada successful her tourney debut astatine Utica, New York.

Coach John Wroblewski credited Edwards for the composure she showed amidst each the attention.

"I deliberation it's conscionable innate," helium said. "It's Layla, she's a shot player, she is simply a gamer, she's the existent deal."

Well, not always. Edwards acknowledged being wowed a nighttime earlier upon seeing the NBA Cavaliers station a representation connected X of prima Larry Nance arriving for their location crippled against Philadelphia wearing Edwards' No. 10 USA hockey jersey.

"I recovered astatine meal portion I was with my family. I was like, `Woah. I thought it was truthful cool,"' Edwards said. "Born successful Ohio. His dada played for the Cavs, legend. ... I thought it was ace chill for him to bash that."