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.

The PWHL hit a new single-season salary record, with the Associated Press reporting that the contract extension inked by Ottawa Charge forward Emily Clark last week pushes her 2025/26 season payday north of the $100,000 mark.

The two-year extension will keep Clark in Ottawa through the PWHL's fifth season in 2027/28.

While the specific amount is not public, the restructuring of Clark's third-season pay — the last on her initial PWHL contract — will reportedly net her the highest single-season salary in league history.

"We know what she brings. She's really the heart and soul of our organization," Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld told the AP.

A two-time Olympian who earned 2018 silver and 2022 gold with Team Canada, Clark is the only player to have taken the ice in every Charge game to date. The 29-year-old was second on Ottawa's 2024/25 scoresheet with nine goals and 10 assists in last season's 30 games.

"I am proud to have been part of this organization from the inaugural season, and I am really grateful to get to extend my contract," Clark said in a statement. "Playing for such a passionate fan base made it easy for me to want more time here.... After coming up just short of the Walter Cup last season, I am as motivated as ever to work to bring a championship in Ottawa."

While the PWHL requires a minimum salary of $35,000, the league does not set any individual maximum pay.

The only other figures that PWHL front offices must abide by are the $1.3 million-per-team 2025/26 salary cap, and a CBA mandate that at least six players on each squad must earn a minimum of $80,000.

Next season, Clark will be one of nine PWHL players making a six-figure salary, as the league expands from six to eight teams.