As Team Canada Women’s Hockey continues its triumphant march through the Milan-Cortina edition of the Winter Olympics, it has faced a significant obstacle: gritty captain Marie-Philip Poulin will remain absent tonight as her teammates set out to face arguably their most formidable foe in a few hours at the Milano Santagiulia IHO Arena.
Marie-Philip Poulin Ruled Out Of Epic USA-Canada Showdown at Milan-Cortina
The Olympics will decide the undisputed claimant of the hockey throne, and Team Canada’s exploits in Italy under Poulin’s deft leadership have been admirable. Poulin looked set to leave her mark tonight in a much-awaited showdown, but the sight of her agony on the bench after a premature exit on Monday against the Czech Republic was hardly a welcome sight.
Poulin left the match against Czechia after a brutal hit from PWHL star Kristyna Kaltounkova, which sent Poulin crashing into the boards. Team Canada’s captain was evidently hurt, and even though she exited unassisted, the encounter with Kaltounkova has taken a serious toll.
“Captain Marie-Philip Poulin will miss tonight’s game against the USA due to a lower-body injury sustained last night,” reported Mark Masters on social media.
🇨🇦 captain Marie-Philip Poulin will miss tonight’s game against 🇺🇸 due to a lower-body injury sustained last night, @TeamCanada announces @TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 10, 2026
Despite Poulin’s early exit from the match against Czechia, her teammates rose to the occasion, avenging their captain and winning the game 5-1. Laura Stacey expressed the team’s gratitude and love for its captain by dedicating the win to Poulin. “She’s picked us up so many times, she’s led the way, and it was our turn to pick her up, it was our turn to support her and try to do whatever we could to get that win tonight for her, but also for ourselves as a group,” Stacey stated, per The Athletic.
How to Watch USA vs. Canada Women’s Hockey in Milan-Cortina
As the two teams meet with more than bragging rights at stake, hardcore fans far away from Italy do not have any reason to miss a single moment of the madness. Both teams have had equally successful campaigns in Italy so far: Team USA is 3-0 while Team Canada is 2-0. The time when one faces its maiden defeat this year on the grandest international stage is just hours away.
The puck drops at 2.10 p.m. ET at the Milano Santagiulia IHO Arena in Milan, Italy. USA Network and CBC will broadcast the game in the United States and Canada, respectively. Fans in the USA can stream the game on Peacock, while those in Canada can do so on CBC Gem. For those who miss it, the game will be re-aired in the United States at 11 p.m. ET.
While both teams have been exemplary so far, historically, Canada has a slight edge. Team USA and Canada Women’s Hockey have combined to win the last seven Olympic gold medals, with Canada winning four of those, according to ESPN Insights.
There is no better time to be a hockey fan than now. Soon after the USA-Canada Women’s Hockey showdown, Team Finland and Slovakia will kickstart the Men’s Hockey edition, with Mikko Rantanen and company looking to defend Finland’s gold medal from the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
