Could a pro league make the Canada-U.S. women's hockey rivalry even better?

As Canada appeared headed to a methodical win over the U.S. on Monday, it felt like, for once, the vaunted rivalry had lost a touch of energy.

Turns out that couldn't have been less true.

The final minutes of the game provided plenty of drama as a disallowed goal, a clock malfunction and last-minute heroics meant Canada needed to earn its eventual 4-3 win the hard way via shootout.

It sets up what will likely be another North American showdown in Sunday's world championship gold-medal game at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ont.

It's arguably the greatest rivalry in sports right now, and it delivers with stunning consistency.

"They're by far the best games," Canadian goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens said after Monday's affair. "I don't think this rivalry can get any better."

WATCH | Rattray delivers in shootout for Canada:

Fair enough. But the addition of a formal professional league, featuring all of the countries' top talent, could certainly add another layer to the heavyweight fight we've seen on repeat for years.

Every player on both North American rosters except U.S. forward Becca Gilmore is currently a member of the Professional Women's Hockey Players' Association (PWHPA). Gilmore plays in the Premier Hockey Federation, which also houses five members of the Czech Republic team among others.

There are reports the PWHPA, which has played a barnstorming showcase series called the Dream Gap Tour over the last four years, will begin a formal, structured league next fall.

"Even this year we got to play with some of them so we might have become a little more friends with them off the ice, but on the ice not so much," Desbiens said. "I think after the game if we run into them we'll definitely chat and stuff but as soon as you put