In the first world championship game versus its biggest rival in more than two years, Canada’s women’s hockey team will have to manage without its best player and captain.

Marie-Philip Poulin left during the third period of Tuesday’s 5-0 win over Switzerland at the IIHF Women's World Championship after taking a puck to the throat and did not return.

On Wednesday, Gina Kingsbury, Hockey Canada’s director of hockey operations, said Poulin was doing well but would be given a couple of days off as a precaution.

“She’s in good spirits but as a program, as a team, we feel it’s necessary to give her a few days off here and reassess her and make sure she’s good to go moving forward,” Kingsbury said.

Poulin’s absence adds another layer to the renewed rivalry. The last time Canada and the United States faced each other in women’s hockey was April 6, 2019, at the world championship, with the Americans coming away with a 3-2 victory. Both squads are undefeated so far in the 2021 tournament.

Canada head coach Troy Ryan isn’t about to alter the team’s approach without Poulin in the lineup.

“We wouldn’t change the gameplan because of a player not being on the roster,” he said on Wednesday. “Obviously, it’s devastating for our program to be moving forward for the next little bit without Poulin, but business as usual for us.”

The Americans have cruised to three victories so far, outscoring opponents 12-0.

“Both teams are in similar situations where the games we’ve played to date have been primarily offensive zone possession, puck possession, so really the team that defends the best is going to have the most success,” Ryan said on Tuesday after Canada’s win over Switzerland.

continued