Canada-U.S. women's hockey rivalry resumes at Milano Cortina 2026

Canada and the United States meet in women's hockey at Milano Cortina 2026 on Tuesday; the U.S. is ranked first and Canada second. Canada’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin left the team’s last game with an injury.

Canada and the United States face each other in women's hockey at Milano Cortina 2026 on Tuesday. The matchup is part of a decades-long rivalry that dates to Canada's first world championship in 1990 and has produced many tight world and Olympic finals. The U.S. enters the tournament ranked No. 1 by the IIHF and Canada is ranked No. 2. Both teams advanced through the preliminary round and will use the game to determine placement before the knockout stage. Key details: - The game is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:10 p.m. ET in Milano Cortina. - The United States is ranked No. 1 by the IIHF and Canada is ranked No. 2. - The U.S. won last year’s world championship 4-3 in overtime and swept the recent Rivalry Series, outscoring Canada 24-7 across four games. - Canada won Olympic gold in 2022 and has 16 returning players from the Beijing roster. - Canada’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin left the team’s 5-1 win over Czechia with an injury. - Both teams feature many PWHL players; the U.S. has integrated younger talent while Canada leans on returning experience, and top goaltenders on both sides are noted. Summary: Tuesday’s match will determine placement for the quarterfinals, with all five teams in Group A advancing to the knockout round later this week. Canada brings veteran experience and a roster with many returning Olympians, while the United States arrives as the top-ranked team with a younger core and strong recent form. The status of Poulin’s injury is a noted uncertainty ahead of the game.