Canada Needs Marie-Philip Poulin To Bail Them Out One More Time | Defector

"Team Canada is used to being led by their "Captain Clutch," and in most international tournaments, that says flattering things about Poulin, the greatest player in the history of her sport. In Milan, though, it seems to say more unflattering things about the way Team Canada has been playing that Poulin was the team's only scorer in a 2-1 game. When they face a rolling Team USA in Thursday's gold-medal game, Canada will probably need a little more."

"Though she would miss the rest of Canada's round-robin games (including their shutout loss to Team USA), head coach Troy Ryan told reporters the team was optimistic she would return for the elimination rounds, and she was indeed back in the lineup against Germany in the quarterfinals, where she scored her 18th career goal at the Olympics, tying Hayley Wickenheiser's record for most career Olympic women's hockey goals."

"Not too much discomfort to score. Never too much discomfort to score. Poulin's 19th career Olympic goal would open the scoring early in the second period against Switzerland. With a one-timer that took a fortunate bounce, she broke Wickenheiser's record. Her second goal of the game was much greasier: Halfway through the second, Daryl Watts tried beating Swiss goaltender Andrea Brändli glove-side after winning a puck battle along the wall, and Poulin was in perfect position for the rebound."

Marie-Philip Poulin scored both goals in Canada's 2-1 Olympic semifinal win over Switzerland, including a one-timer that broke Hayley Wickenheiser's career Olympic goal record and a rebound off a Daryl Watts chance. Poulin returned from a hit against Czechia that forced her to miss round-robin games, including a shutout loss to the United States, and appeared carted to the ice before puck drop because she could not walk comfortably. The team's dependence on the 34-year-old, hobbled captain revealed limited scoring depth beyond her leadership. Canada will face Team USA in the gold-medal game and likely needs additional offense.

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