Canadian women's hockey team captain Marie-Philip Poulin left the first period of an Olympic game against Czechia due to an apparent knee injury and did not return for the second period. Poulin's injury occurred during a check from Czech player Kristyna Kaltounkova midway through the opening frame, after which she noticeably favored her right knee as she skated off the ice.

Despite her discomfort, Poulin briefly returned to the ice during a power-play opportunity while Kaltounkova served a penalty for an illegal hit. However, seconds later, she skated out of the offensive zone in visible distress and made her way back to the dressing room. Before the first period concluded, Poulin rejoined her teammates on the bench, but the team proceeded without her for the remainder of the game.

At the time Poulin left the game, Canada was leading 1-0. The team managed to build on that lead, scoring two additional goals before the first period ended, ultimately concluding the period with a score of 4-0. After the buzzer, Poulin took to the ice again with her teammates, making a few laps to test her knee, but she was absent from the bench when the second period commenced, signaling the seriousness of her injury.

Marie-Philip Poulin holds the distinction of having scored the most goals of any active player in the Olympic women’s hockey tournament, totaling 17 goals. This record is closely approached by her former teammate, Hayley Wickenheiser, who holds the all-time record with 18 goals. Poulin's impressive Olympic career includes five appearances, where she has celebrated three gold medals—achieved in Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, and Beijing 2022. Additionally, she earned a silver medal at the PyeongChang 2018 Games.

The timing of Poulin’s injury is particularly concerning for the Canadian team, as they are poised to face their historical rivals, Team USA, on Tuesday in Group A action. The absence of their captain, who is not only a pivotal player but also a leader, could significantly impact Canada's performance as they prepare for this high-stakes matchup.