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Game Analysis

Rivalry Series Takes LA – A Look At Today’s USA/Canada Matchup @ Crypto.com Arena

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WHO: United States (1-0-0) vs. Canada (0-1-0)
WHAT: Rivalry Series – Game 2
WHEN: Saturday, November 11 @ 1:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: NHL Network – AUDIO – N/A – TWITTER: @USAHockey & @LAKings

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: For the second straight season, Team USA and Team Canada will square off at Crypto.com Arena as a part of the Rivalry Series between the two teams.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Team Canada took last season’s game in overtime, by a 3-2 final, when the two teams squared off in Los Angeles. Team USA got goals from defenseman Cayla Barnes and forward Taylor Heise, both of whom are on this season’s roster. Forwards Sarah Fillier and Laura Stacey, who scored for Team Canada in last season’s victory, are also on this season’s Rivalry Series roster for the visitors.

TEAM USA VITALS: Team USA won the first matchup of this year’s Rivalry Series by a 3-1 margin on Wednesday evening at Mullet Arena in Tempe, AZ.

Goaltender Aerin Frankel was the star on Wednesday, as she made 35 saves on 36 shots in the opening game of the seven-game slate. Frankel, who played for Boston in the PWHL, was Team USA’s starting goaltender during the 2023 World Championships, as she posted a 5-1 record on route to a gold medal victory over Canada.

– A leading storyline for the Americans is Eastvale, California native and two-time Olympian Cayla Barnes, who is returning home to play in her home state for the second straight year. Barnes grew up in the Southern California area and played her youth hockey within the Kings organization. Barnes scored the game-opening goal in last season’s game at Crypto.com Arena.

Barnes joined the All The Kings Men podcast a couple of years back to discuss growing up playing hockey in California and her eventual rise to a collegiate star and women’s national team player.

– Team USA forward Alex Carpenter is the daughter of former Kings forward Bobby Carpenter. Carpenter was on the roster during last season’s game and is a part of this season’s group as well for the games in Arizona and California. Carpenter was tied for fifth with seven assists at the 2023 IIHF World Championship and collected an assist during the game played in Los Angeles played last season. The elder Carpenter played for the Kings during parts of three seasons – 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89.

– Laila Edwards is seeking her U.S. Women’s National Team debut during the first two games of the Rivalry Series. Laila, who is currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, is the first black player to represent Team USA as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Edwards did not play in Tempe on Wednesday, but reports suggest she is likely to play her first game with the senior squad this afternoon in Los Angeles.

TEAM CANADA VITALS: For Team Canada, they enter today’s game in search of their first victory of this season’s series, following the Americans’ win on Wednesday.

Emerance Maschmeyer, who picked up the victory for the Canadians in last season’s game at Crypto.com Arena, was the goaltender of record in Game 1 on Wednesday in Tempe. Maschmeyer made 24 saves on 27 shots as she took the loss on the evening.

– Canada’s roster features 17 players who won a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship, as well as three players who are making their debut with Canada’s National Women’s Team.

– Included in the group of returners is forward Brianne Jenner, who scored her team’s lone goal in Game 1 of the series. Jenner was the 2022 Olympics Most Valuable Player, with 14 points from seven games, as Canada won the gold medal. Jenner was also a point-per-game player during the 2023 World Championships and led all players at the 2021 tournament with eight assists throughout the event. Jenner has 113 points all-time for Team Canada, 13th most all time, just seven points shy of a spot in the top 10.

– One of just three players on the Canada roster is Fillier, who scored in last season’s meeting at Crypto.com Arena. Fillier still plays collegiate hockey at Princeton, but was the leading scorer for Team Canada at the 2023 World Championships. Just one player in the tournament had more goals than Fillier’s seven, and her 11 points were tied for the fifth most among all skaters participating.

Clickables
Mayor’s Manor – 7 Things To Know About The Rivalry Series

Los Angeles Daily News – USA and Canada Renew Women’s Hockey Rivalry

Andscape – Laila Edwards Makes History With Team USA
For anyone interested in attending, tickets are available here, with all proceeds benefitting programs to grow and support girls hockey in Los Angeles, through the Kings Care Foundation.

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