Comparing Canada and USA's Rosters for the Final Stops of the Rivalry Series

The past two seasons, the February leg of the Rivalry Series has favored Canada. USA has jumped out to early leads riding their talented young core of NCAA players, before falling to Canada when the pressure rested on the shoulders of their pros alone.

This year however, Canada already has a 2-1 series league, but USA is also bringing a stronger group of professionals than they've been able to field the last two seasons.

Here's a look at how each roster stacks up.

Forwards Are A Draw

At the top of USA's lineup, Alex Carpenter, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Hilary Knight, Taylor Heise, Britta Curl-Salemme, and Hannah Bilka are off to strong starts in the PHWL – as are Kelly Pannek and Jesse Compher, who fought her way back to USA. But their lineup does lack the same depth they've felt in past competitions without Tessa Janecke, Abbey Murphy, Kirsten Simms, Joy Dunne, Laila Edwards, Lacey Eden, and Casey O'Brien as offensive weapons. Instead USA has added two-way players in Compher and Gabby Rosenthal. Canada, on the other hand, is coming out swinging with their usual suspects of Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Fillier, Sarah Nurse, and company. Canada's pros aren't scoring at the same rate as USA's, but they also have several dynamic players including Emily Clark, Danielle Serdachny, and Daryl Watts who've shown flashes of genius this season, along with veterans Brianne Jenner and Blayre Turnbull who are starting to come to life. Canada is also banking on chemistry and could test Montreal Victoire linemates Jennifer Gardiner, Poulin, and Laura Stacey as a trio internationally. Neither team has a decided edge up front. Canada has the better depth, but USA's core has done more lately.

Canada's Blue Line Is Bursting At The Seams

Without Caroline Harvey, Haley Winn, and Rory Guilday, USA's blue line simply doesn't look the same. Sydney Bard has had a spectacular start to her PWHL career and deserves a look, but USA's defense is not as strong it was in November. Conversely, Canada's blue line is bursting at the seams. Not only has Claire Thompson returned with a vengeance, but so has Micah Zandee-Hart this season, and Canada still has Renata Fast, Ella Shelton, Erin Ambrose, and others ready to step in. When Canada's eighth defender could be Ashton Bell, Sophie Jaques, or even Jocelyne Larocque for these games, you can see the strength they have at this position. From the outside looking in, Canada still has Chloe Primerano and Nicole Gosling pressing for spots. Canada has a decided defense advantage.

Canada Has The Crease Edge

When Canada leaves behind last year's PWHL Goaltender of the Year, you know their crease is strong. They've brought the two leading contenders for Goaltender of the Year this season in Corinne Schroeder and Emerance Maschmeyer, and Ann-Renee Desbiens isn't far outside of that conversation. It's a formidable trio, where at this point in the year, no matter who they start, Canada will be hard to score against. USA's goaltending trio won't be easy to beat either. Aerin Frankel remains at the top of her game, while Gwyneth Philips is beginning to get hot, too. The lone question mark for USA is if Nicole Hensley can find her consistency again. Canada has the edge here as well.

Who were the most notable omissions?

Canada left behind Jaime Bourbonnais not because she's having a bad year, but because others are having better years. Canada's most notable omission was likely Jessie Eldridge, who has clicked alongside Sarah Fillier on the New York Sirens' top line. USA has more debate when it comes to omissions. Abby Boreen could easily be getting a look, and deserved one this time around. She's a power forward who could have helped push back against Canada's group. On the blue line, shoring up their defensive group with a veteran like Kali Flanagan or Jincy Roese would have helped. In net, Maddie Rooney probably earned a look as USA's third goalie again, but the nation doesn't seem interested in bringing her back no matter how well she's playing.