Canada hockey rebounded from Tuesday's 5-0 loss to Team USA with a 5-0 shutout win over Finland on Thursday, capping the women's preliminary round at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
PWHL star Emily Clark scored twice while Jenn Gardiner, Daryl Watts, and Kristin O'Neill all added singles to Canada's tally, while Julia Gosling and Laura Stacey each recorded two assists. Meanwhile, goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens posted 17 saves in her third start in four days.
Gardiner opened scoring in the first period, finishing off a no-look pass from Gosling. Watts later doubled the lead in the second period on a Sarah Fillier backhand feed, before O'Neill made it 3-0 when her shot deflected off a Finnish skate and into the goal. Clark subsequently secured the win with two third-period goals, including a wraparound finish.
Canada hockey takes the ice without captain Marie-Philip Poulin
Canada played without captain Marie-Philip Poulin for the second straight game on Thursday, after the forward exited Monday's 5-1 win over Czechia with a lower-body injury.
Poulin — who sits one goal shy of Hayley Wickenheiser's all-time Olympic women's hockey scoring record — also sat out Tuesday's Team USA routing. Coach Troy Ryan told reporters he remains optimistic she'll return for the knockout round.
“She skated today with our medical staff and one of our coaches,” Ryan said ahead of today's win.
“She felt well, obviously not good enough right now to put her in the game. An extra couple days will do her justice. But everything was positive from the skate that she had today, so we’re still optimistic that she’ll return at some point.”
How to watch Team Canada in the women's hockey quarterfinals
Canada finishes Group A on a 3-0-0-1 record. This latest win sets up a quarterfinal clash with Group B runner-up Germany on Saturday at 10:40 AM ET, live on Peacock.
