Hilary Knight showcased her scoring prowess with a hat trick in the second game of the women’s hockey Rivalry Series between the U.S. and Canada. The United States secured a 6-1 victory, taking a 2-0 lead in the series at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center.
At 36 years old, Knight, the team captain, proved she still has what it takes on the ice. This performance followed her strong showing in the PWHL season, where she tied for the league lead with 29 points in 30 games.
Knight’s goals came in quick succession, with two early goals and an empty-netter to seal the win. Her stellar performance came after Abbey Murphy’s hat trick in the series opener, highlighting the depth of offensive talent on the American team.
Laila Edwards, Kelly Pannek, and Hayley Scamurra also contributed goals for the U.S., while Gwyneth Philips made 29 saves in goal. On the Canadian side, Marie-Philip Poulin scored, and Kayle Osborne, making her national team debut, stopped 26 shots.
Despite the losses, Canadian coach Troy Ryan remains focused on improvement, noting the competitive nature of the games. The series will resume in Edmonton for the final two games after a month-long break.
The U.S. has now won four consecutive games against Canada, including a recent overtime victory at the world championships. Knight’s power-play goal and strong offensive performance propelled the Americans to victory in the second game of the Rivalry Series.