Olympic Women’s Hockey: Canada Wins, but Poulin Injury Casts a Shadow; Italy Makes History, U.S. Dominates Again
Four games lit up the Olympic ice on Monday, and while Canada and the U.S. both handled their business in Group A, the biggest storyline came off the scoresheet-an injury to Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin that could have major implications as the tournament heads into the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Italy punched its ticket to the quarterfinals in dramatic fashion, and Germany edged France in overtime to keep their hopes alive.
Let’s break it all down.
🇮🇹 Italy 3, 🇯🇵 Japan 2 (Group B)
Italy is heading to the quarterfinals, and they’re doing it in style. Kristin Della Rovere, the Toronto Sceptres forward, scored just 37 seconds into the third period to give Italy a 3-1 lead-what would ultimately stand as the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over Japan.
That win secures Italy a top-three finish in Group B, and with it, a spot in the quarterfinals. It’s a milestone moment: Italy becomes the first host nation to reach the women’s hockey quarterfinals since Russia in 2014.
Matilde Fantin was the star of the night for the Italians. The 19-year-old netted two goals and continues to emerge as a breakout player on the international stage. Born nearly a year after the 2006 Olympics, Fantin is proving that the next generation of Italian hockey is already here.
Japan made it interesting late, with Akane Shiga cutting the deficit to one, but they couldn’t find the equalizer. Goaltender Miyuu Masuhara stopped 20 shots for Japan, while Gabriella Durante was solid in net for Italy, turning away 27.
🇩🇪 Germany 2, 🇫🇷 France 1 [OT] (Group B)
Germany needed a win, and they got it-though not in the cleanest way. Katarina Jobst-Smith, who plays for the Vancouver Goldeneyes, scored just 1:07 into overtime to lift Germany past France, 2-1.
The extra-time win gives Germany two points instead of three, which could matter in the tight Group B standings. Still, they now sit at five points heading into a crucial matchup with Italy. Japan, meanwhile, remains at three points, making the final day of group play a must-watch.
Laura Kluge scored Germany’s lone goal in regulation, while Estelle Duvin got France on the board. France’s Alice Philbert was the busiest player on the ice, stopping 45 of 47 shots in a gutsy performance. On the other end, Germany’s Sandra Abstreiter made 13 saves to secure the win.
🇺🇸 USA 5, 🇨🇭 Switzerland 0 (Group A)
The U.S. continues to look like a team on a mission. Five different players recorded multi-point games in a 5-0 rout of Switzerland, with Caroline Harvey and Joy Dunne leading the way-each tallying a goal and two assists.
Hilary Knight chipped in with two assists, Alex Carpenter had a goal and a helper, and Hannah Bilka added another goal to round out the scoring.
Switzerland did manage to generate more offense than they did against Canada, putting 21 shots on net. But American goaltending was up to the task.
Gwyneth Philips got the start-her first of the Olympics-and was perfect through nearly 58 minutes. Ava McNaughton came in for the final 1:48, getting her first taste of Olympic action.
🇨🇦 Canada 5, 🇨🇿 Czechia 1 (Group A)
Canada picked up another win, but the victory came with a cost.
Julia Gosling scored twice, and Ann-Renée Desbiens made 18 saves in a 5-1 win over Czechia. But the focus quickly shifted to Marie-Philip Poulin, who went down with a right knee injury after taking a hit from Kristyna Kaltounkova.
Poulin attempted to return but was clearly not at full strength. She sat on the bench at the end of the first period but did not return for the second. Hockey Canada has since confirmed that she will miss Tuesday’s game against the United States and is listed as day-to-day.
The injury was a gut punch for Team Canada. As forward Laura Stacey put it, “She’s our leader and our rock. It kind of hit us, we all looked at each other, we all felt it… She’s picked us up so many times, she’s led the way, and now it’s our turn to pick her up.”
Canada responded with resilience. Stacey, Kristin O’Neill, and Sarah Fillier all found the back of the net. The team adjusted quickly to new line combinations, a testament to the experience and chemistry of this core group.
Head coach Troy Ryan highlighted the team’s adaptability: “We’ve had so many line combinations that we’ve worked on, so I didn’t have to dig too deep to find combinations we were comfortable with. Putting a Clark-Turnbull-Stacey line back together gives you a foundation to reset.”
Czechia started 23-year-old Julie Pejsova in net-her first senior international appearance. She allowed three goals on 11 shots before being pulled after just under 14 minutes of play. Natálie Mlýnková continued her strong tournament with a goal in her third straight game, and she now has points in four straight.
Canada also had a brief scare when Erin Ambrose left the game after Mlýnková landed on her leg during the goal celebration, but she returned to action.
The Poulin Situation
There’s no timeline yet for Poulin’s return, and Canada is keeping things tight-lipped-no morning skate or media availability scheduled before Tuesday’s showdown with the U.S.
From a scheduling standpoint, there’s a silver lining. If Poulin misses Tuesday’s game and Thursday’s against Finland, she could still have nearly a week to recover before Canada’s quarterfinal on February 14. The semifinals follow on February 16, with the gold medal game set for February 19.
For now, it’s all about managing the unknown. Canada will have to find a way to keep pushing forward, with or without their captain on the ice.
What’s Next
Tuesday marks the final day of preliminary play for most teams. Japan faces a must-win against Sweden to stay alive, while Italy and Germany square off in a game that will likely determine who faces Canada and who draws the United States in the quarterfinals.
Canada still has one more group game to play-against Finland on Wednesday. With Poulin out and the top seed in Group A still up for grabs, that matchup with the U.S. on Tuesday just got even more intriguing.
Buckle up. The Olympic women’s hockey tournament is entering its most dramatic stretch yet.