Team Canada will be without its heartbeat tonight.
Marie-Philip Poulin, the longtime captain and face of Canadian women’s hockey, will miss Tuesday’s marquee matchup against Team USA due to a lower-body injury. Her absence is officially listed as day-to-day, but for a Canadian squad chasing back-to-back Olympic gold, even a short-term loss of Poulin is a major storyline.
The injury occurred during Monday’s 5-1 win over Czechia. Late in the first period, Poulin collided with Czech forward Kristyna Kaltounkova.
She briefly returned to the bench but didn’t take another shift. Before heading to the locker room, she tested her leg with a short skate near the Canadian net-noticeably favoring one side and not putting much weight on the injured leg.
She didn’t return for the second period and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Now, just 24 hours later, Canada will take the ice against its biggest rival without the player who’s delivered in nearly every clutch moment the program has seen over the past decade and a half.
Poulin, 34, is competing in her fifth Olympic Games-a staggering feat in itself-and has already left her mark on this tournament with an assist in Canada’s 4-0 win over Switzerland. But beyond the scoresheet, her leadership, poise, and ability to elevate in the biggest moments are what set her apart. She's been the engine of this team for years, the kind of player who can tilt a game with a shift, a pass, or a perfectly timed goal.
Without her, the rest of Canada’s top-six forwards will need to step up, both in production and in presence. The Canada-USA rivalry doesn’t need extra fuel, but Poulin’s absence changes the dynamic. She’s been a central figure in so many of these battles-scoring gold-medal winners, leading comebacks, and setting the tone with her two-way play.
Team Canada still boasts plenty of firepower and depth, but replacing Poulin isn’t just about filling a spot on the top line-it’s about filling a void in identity. How they respond tonight could say a lot about where this team is headed as the tournament progresses.
For now, all eyes will be on the Canadian bench-and on any updates about when their captain might return. Because if there’s one thing history has taught us, it’s that when Poulin is on the ice, anything is possible.