Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin left Saturday’s game against the Boston Fleet in the first period and did not return. This raises fresh concerns about the knee injury that has troubled her since the Milan Olympics.

Poulin played just 5:16 before departing following a collision with Boston’s Shay Maloney that left her favouring her right leg. The Fleet went on to defeat Montreal 4–3 in overtime at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, in a matchup between the PWHL’s top two teams.

Poulin’s injury status remains uncertain after being ruled out of the game

“Just being assessed right now, we’ll see as the game goes on if she’s going to come back,” head coach Kori Cheverie said on the bench during the first intermission.

However, Poulin was officially ruled out for the remainder of the contest prior to the second period.

Marie-Philip Poulin officially ruled out for the rest of today’s game https://t.co/KT6e1tev9x

— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) March 15, 2026

In her limited ice time, Poulin recorded one shot on goal and two hits before leaving the game. Kati Tabin replaced her on the ice and scored shortly after the substitution.

The team has not provided any update on the severity of the injury or a potential timeline for Poulin’s return. Given the proximity to the playoffs and the apparent involvement of the same knee that plagued her during the Olympics, the situation might be closely monitored in the coming days.

Marie-Philip Poulin may have hurt the same knee she injured during the Olympics

The injury appears to involve the same right knee that Poulin hurt during Canada’s Olympic preliminary round game against Czechia last month. That incident, caused by a hit from Kristyna Kaltounkova, sent Poulin awkwardly into the boards. This forced her to miss Canada’s final two group stage games in Milan.

Despite the setback, Poulin returned for the Olympic knockout rounds and delivered a performance befitting her legendary status. She scored both goals in Canada’s 2–1 semifinal victory over Switzerland and broke the women’s hockey record for career Olympic goals during the tournament. Canada ultimately fell 2–1 to the United States in overtime in the gold medal game, with Poulin playing through obvious discomfort. Teammates later revealed that she had concealed the extent of her pain from the team, refusing to let the injury become a distraction.

When PWHL play resumed after the Olympic break, Poulin was listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. This is the league’s standard designation for leg, knee or ankle issues. She missed only Montreal’s first game back before returning to the lineup. Over her next three appearances, Poulin posted two goals and three points.

Through 19 games this season, the 34-year-old Quebec native has nine goals and eight assists for 17 points. She ranks sixth in the PWHL in both goals and total points. Her production rate has kept Montreal competitive in the standings despite the team navigating various lineup challenges throughout the campaign.

Fleet beat Victoire in OT

Boston pulled off a dramatic comeback with three third-period goals to erase Montreal’s lead before rookie defenceman Ella Huber scored the overtime winner. The victory kept Boston in first place in the PWHL standings with crucial playoff positioning on the line.

Montreal remains in second position despite the loss. The Victoire were on a hot run prior to the loss and were looking like legitimate contenders this season. Unfortunately, the potential absence of their captain looms large as the regular season winds down. The Victoire have relied heavily on Poulin’s two-way play and ability to deliver in key moments throughout the year.

No timeline has been provided for Poulin’s return to the lineup. The Victoire are expected to provide an update on her condition in the coming days.