Feb. 10 (UPI) — Hannah Bilka scored twice to spark a record 5-0 U.S. shutout of Canada in the group stage of the Olympic women’s hockey tournament Tuesday in Milan.
The victory marked the first time Canada was shut out at the Olympics in women’s hockey and was largest ever for the Americans against their rivals, whom they met in the gold medal match in six of the seven Winter Olympics to feature the sport.
The Canadians, who played without injured captain Marie-Philip Poulin, won five of the last six women’s hockey gold medals.
“I think it’s always great when you get a win like that,” U.S. forward Alex Carpenter said on the NBC broadcast. “I think we put in a solid 60 minutes there. We can hopefully continue that in the next couple games.”
The vision from Abbey Murphy. The finish from Hannah Bilka.
@Peacock and @USANetwork
pic.twitter.com/9MXO1T1Ikg— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 10, 2026
Bilka and the Americans dominated from the start in their first meeting with Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, outshooting the northern neighbors 33-20 at Milano Santagiulia IHO Arena.
With the win, the Americans finished group-stage play with a 20-1 scoring advantage of their four foes and secured the top seed in the quarterfinals.
“From our goalie, all the way to our defense and forwards, I think we put in a solid effort and we pride ourselves on that part of our game,” Carpenter said.
Forward Kirsten Simms and defenders Laila Edwards and Caroline Harvey also scored in Tuesday’s win. Goalie Aerin Frankel totaled 20 saves. Harvey also logged two assists. Forward Abbey Murphy registered three assists.
Harvey lit the lamp for first blood 3:45 into the Americans’ group stage finale. She teamed up with Murphy to assist Bilka’s first score with 2:42 remaining in the first period.
Simms and Bilka scored in the second to help the Americans take a 4-0 lead into the final period. Edwards netted the game’s final score with 8:07 remaining.
The Americans will face host Italy in the quarterfinals. The Italians, who lost 2-1 to Germany on Tuesday in Milan, were 2-2 in the group stage, where they scored nine goals and allowed 11.
“We need to get some rest and not take our opponent too lightly,” Carpenter said. “Everybody in this tournament is a great team. We are going to have to do good scouting.”
Canada (2-1) will take on Finland (1-2) in another Group A meeting Thursday in Milan. Sweden beat Japan 4-0 in Group B play earlier Tuesday in Milan. Finland beat Switzerland 3-1 in a Group A match.
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