MILAN — It didn’t matter that Abbey Murphy was in the corner with her back to teammate Hannah Bilka and a defender draped all over her.
The electric young American star still found a way to catch the Canadian defense by surprise and set up Bilka for the easiest goal she’ll ever score.
Advertisement
“That was an incredible pass,” Bilka said. “She has eyes in the back of her head. I really don’t know how she saw me, but it was an insane play.”
Murphy’s slick no-look, behind-the-back pass was the highlight of the U.S. women’s hockey team’s statement-making 5-0 victory over Canada on Tuesday night. The Americans solidified themselves as unequivocal favorites at these Olympics by dominating a highly anticipated rivalry showdown that likely doubled as a preview of next week’s gold-medal match.
One of the biggest reasons that the U.S. won so convincingly was the performance of Murphy. The 23-year-old University of Minnesota forward assisted on three of the U.S.’s five goals, two of which were netted by Bilka. As usual, she also got under the skin of the Canadians and drew penalties that led to four American power plays.
Advertisement
“She’s a special player,” said Kirsten Simms, who plays for the University of Wisconsin and faces Murphy a handful of times per year. “When she’s on your team, it’s a lot more fun.”
This isn’t the first time that Murphy has produced a viral moment with her uncanny awareness and passing ability. Check out this highlight-reel pass from last month that hockey analyst John Buccigross called “the greatest assist of all time.”
Murphy is the biggest X factor for a U.S. team with plenty of firepower. When she plays at this level, the Americans go from the best team in the world to practically unbeatable.
Advertisement
“She’s such a high-IQ player, but she can also put the puck in the back of the net,” Bilka said. “She’s really a dual threat.”
Leave a Reply