Marie-Philip Poulin Returns, Scores in Canada's 5-1 Win

Marie-Philip Poulin had been watching from the sidelines for two games, sidelined by a knee injury, but when Canada needed their captain most, she delivered.

The 34-year-old hockey icon returned to the ice Saturday in Milan and scored her 18th Olympic career goal, matching Hockey Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser's all-time record. Canada defeated Germany 5-1 to advance to the Olympic semifinals, and Poulin's presence transformed the team's energy from the opening minutes.

Just five minutes into the game, Poulin made a crucial defensive play by chasing down Germany's Laura Kluge on a shorthanded breakaway. She disrupted the shot attempt with her stick, allowing goalie Emerance Maschmeyer to make the save.

Later, she capped the scoring with a power-play goal, redirecting Sarah Fillier's shot from her signature spot in front of the net. When teammates congratulated her on the milestone after the game, Poulin brushed it off as unimportant compared to being back with her team.

"Being a little bit back in the stands for the last two put things in perspective for sure," Poulin said. "You want to be part of that, and you never want to be on the sideline due to an injury."

Her teammates understood what her return meant. Emily Clark called her "such a gamer" who always shows up ready when the stakes are highest. Poulin has earned her "Captain Clutch" nickname by scoring three Olympic gold medal-winning goals across her career.

Canada dominated the matchup, outshooting Germany 43-11 and getting goals from five different players including Brianne Jenner, Claire Thompson, Sarah Fillier, and Blayre Turnbull. The defending Olympic champions improved their all-time record against Germany to 9-0, outscoring them 83-1 across all international play.

Germany's Franziska Feldmeier became the first German woman to score against Canada, converting on a shorthanded breakaway in the third period. She called it "always exciting" to score against such a powerhouse team.

Why This Inspires

Poulin's return shows what leadership truly means. At 34 years old in her fifth Olympic Games, she could have taken extra time to recover or played cautiously to protect her knee. Instead, she competed at full intensity because her team needed her.

Coach Troy Ryan summed up what many feel about the veteran star: "I've run out of things to say about Pou. In my head, you'd almost think that was already her record. It's just nice that she gets to be where she belongs."

Canada now advances to Monday's semifinals where they'll face Finland or Switzerland, one step closer to defending their gold medal.