SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Jennifer Gardiner scored at 13:16 of the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and lifted Canada to a 3-1 victory over the United States in the fifth and deciding game of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series on Saturday at Credit Union Place.
Brianne Jenner gave Canada a 1-0 lead at 6:48 in the second period. Kelly Pannek tied the game at 3:03 of the third, setting up Gardiner's heroics. Laura Stacey scored an insurance marker for Canada with 1:19 left in the game.
Danielle Serdachny assisted on the first two Canadian goals.
Canadian netminder Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 28 of 29 shots, while U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel stopped 40 of 43 shots.
“It was good game overall. I thought we played well and outplayed them. It would have been nice to score a couple of goals early, so it took us awhile to get going," said Canadian coach Troy Ryan.
"I thought we made a couple of adjustments after the first period, and we finally took the game over from there."
Gardiner, from Surrey, B.C., was thrilled to play in the final and make a difference.
"It is pretty incredible. Just to put the jersey on is a huge honour, but to get on the scoreboard just felt like one of the most incredible feelings. I couldn’t even explain it really — it felt like I blacked out for a second," said Gardiner.
"The whole sequence of events, doing it on home soil in Canada and with the group we have in the locker room is incredible. With all the love and support from the staff and players, it has been a night I’ll never forget, that’s for sure."
The Americans defeated Canada 7-2 on Nov. 6, 2024, in San Jose, Calif., and 2-1 in a shootout on Thursday in Halifax, N.S.
Canada won 5-4 in a shootout on Nov. 8, 2024, in West Valley City, Utah, and 4-1 on Nov. 10, 2024, in Boise, Idaho.
It was the third consecutive year in which the best-of-five series went the distance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2025.
The Canadian Press
