MILAN — Marie-Philip Poulin’s injured right knee held up just fine.
And the Canadian women’s hockey icon added another entry to her “Captain Clutch” reputation.
Returning to the lineup after missing two-plus games, Poulin injected a spark into a slow-starting Canadian team by making a key defensive play and then scoring to tie the Olympic career record in a 5-1 win over Germany in the quarterfinal-round of the Milan Cortina Games on Saturday.
The goal, the 18th in her fifth Olympic Games, was a mere afterthought for Poulin, who matched former Canadian teammate and Hockey Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser. Rejoining her teammates in the knockout round was her only motivation.
“Being a little bit back in the stands for the last two put things in perspective for sure,” Poulin said, after watching Canada drop a 5-0 decision to the U.S. before closing preliminary play a 5-0 win over Finland. “You want to be part of that, and you never want to be on the sideline due to an injury.”
Her teammates were happy to welcome back the 34-year-old, who earned her nickname for scoring three Olympic gold medal-clinching goals.
“She’s such a gamer. There’s never a doubt that when she’s on the ice, she’s ready,” Emily Clark said. “She does everything she has to do to be everything she can be for this team.”
Sarah Fillier had a goal and assist, and Brianne Jenner, Claire Thompson and Blayre Turnbull also scored for the defending Olympic champions. Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 10 shots.
Canada advanced to the semifinals set for Monday and will play Switzerland, which defeated Finland, 1-0, in the day’s other quarterfinal. The top-seeded and tournament-favored Americans will play Sweden, the Group B winner after the Swedes’ upset Czechia on Friday.
It was the first Olympic meeting between the two nations, while Canada improved to 9-0 overall in international play and has now outscored the Germans by a combined 83-1.