Marie-Philip Poulin Returns to Lead Canada to Olympic Semifinals with Historic Goal
MILAN — The Canadian women's hockey team received a monumental boost on Saturday as captain Marie-Philip Poulin returned to the lineup after a knee injury, immediately making Olympic history in a commanding 5-1 quarterfinal victory over Germany at RHO Arena.
The first indication that Poulin would be back came from a large Ville de Beauceville flag waving proudly behind Canada's bench, followed by her appearance on the ice during warmups approximately forty minutes before the crucial Olympic matchup.
Historic Moment in Third Period
The defining moment arrived in the third period with just over four minutes remaining when Poulin redirected a shot from teammate Sarah Fillier into the German net. This marked not only her first goal of the Milan 2026 Olympics but also her 18th career Olympic goal, tying the legendary Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser for the most goals in Olympic women's hockey history.
Canadian coach Troy Ryan showed immediate confidence in his captain's recovery, starting Poulin on the opening faceoff alongside line mates Fillier and Daryl Watts. The veteran forward displayed no lingering effects from the knee injury she sustained against Czechia just five days earlier.
Canada's Path to Victory
The Canadian squad demonstrated increasing dominance throughout the contest, outshooting Germany 17-3 during a particularly strong second period that saw them build a 3-0 lead. Despite some moments of resistance from the German team, which occasionally made life uncomfortable for the powerhouse Canadian side, the outcome was never in serious doubt.
This quarterfinal marked the first-ever Olympic meeting between Canada and Germany in women's hockey, though the two nations had faced each other eight times previously in international competition. Germany entered the contest having never scored a goal against Canada in their history, having been outscored 78-0 in previous meetings.
German Breakthrough and Canadian Response
The German team did manage to make some history of their own when Franziska Feldmeier scored on a short-handed breakaway midway through the third period, ending Canada's all-time shutout streak against them. However, this lone goal did little to disrupt Canada's momentum or control of the game.
Under the guidance of coach Jeff MacLeod, who once played university hockey against Canadian counterpart Troy Ryan in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the German team showed moments of defensive resilience, particularly in clogging up dangerous areas in front of their net.
Road to Gold Defense Continues
The victory represents a significant step forward for Canada's gold medal defense, which has faced numerous challenges early in the tournament. These obstacles included a delayed start due to a norovirus outbreak affecting Team Finland, Poulin's injury, and a disappointing 5-0 loss to pre-tournament favorite United States.
With Poulin's return and a convincing quarterfinal performance, the Canadian team appears to be regaining its championship form at precisely the right moment. The squad now advances to the Olympic semifinals with renewed confidence and their inspirational captain back in the lineup, ready to continue their pursuit of back-to-back gold medals.
