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Team Canada doesn't need Marie-Philip Poulin on Monday against Czechia.
But the all-time great women's hockey player could be crucial in a matchup against the United States, and the gold medal game preview is on Tuesday. Poulin's availability will be uncertain after sustaining an injury on Monday.
Poulin took a hard hit to her head area during the first period from Czechia's Krystina Kaltounkova. Poulin left the ice and headed down the tunnel behind the Canada bench.
The Canadians raced out ahead without their legendary scorer, and by the time she returned to the bench, Canada was up 4-0 with the first period still going.
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The bad news came to start the second period, though. Poulin wasn't on the bench at all.
"She tried to skate briefly at the end of the first and did not seem comfortable," wrote the Toronto Sun's Rob Longley on X.
The 34-year old Poulin was the IIHF Female Player of the Year in 2025 and is a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
She scored both of Canada's goals in the 2010 gold medal game against the U.S. in Vancouver.
In the 2014 gold medal game, Poulin scored the game-tying and game-winning goals as Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime.
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The United States got the gold in 2018, but in 2022, two Poulin goals got Canada past the U.S. again for another gold.
Canada's biggest concern will be having Poulin healthy for the gold medal match, not the preliminary game on Tuesday.
But this will be something the entire women's hockey world is watching closely.
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