After we speak about Marie-Philip Poulin, the phrase “snatch” will get used so much.
However after her outstanding two-goal efficiency in opposition to the USA to lend a hand Canada reclaim Olympic gold in Beijing by way of a ranking of 3-2 on Thursday, it’s more than likely time we get a hold of one thing just a little more potent, eh?
Remarkable. Generational. Superhuman. The GOATest of all GOATs… There would possibly not in truth be a phrase that may correctly surround the greatness of the Canadian ladies’s captain in terms of Olympic hockey.
Since making her Olympic debut at age 18 in 2010, Poulin has performed in 4 gold-medal matchups — all in opposition to Group USA — and has scored in all 4.
Along with her first-period marker in opposition to the U.S., a seeing-eye shot after choosing the pocket of ahead Kelly Pannek within the American zone, Poulin was the one participant — male or feminine — to attain in 4 gold-medal matchups at the Olympic level. Her moment target of the sport, a good looks assisted by way of linemates Brianne Jenner and Sarah Nurse, served because the game-winner.
Poulin now has 3 Olympic gold medals, with all 3 being gained at the energy of her stick. Her knack for scoring golden aims — first in 2010, however in 2014, and now in 2022 — is not like that of some other participant we’ve ever observed. (She additionally scored the OT winner finally August’s Global Championship, as a result of path she did.)
That is Canada’s 5th gold medal in ladies’s hockey at the Olympic level.
And but, whilst those 2022 Video games obviously introduced many acquainted attractions for Poulin and Canadian hockey lovers, it additionally introduced a primary for Canada’s humble chief: Her first Olympic gold as captain of this membership.
IS THIS THE GREATEST TEAM CANADA EVER?
Having a look again at this event now, gold was once by no means truly doubtful for this version of Group Canada. Assured heading into Beijing after a super trip on the Global Championship in August, expectancies had been excessive that the nationwide staff may regain Olympic gold after bringing house silver 4 years in the past in Pyeongchang.
Offensively, Canada was once dominant from puck drop of Sport 1 during to the podium-topping end of the general, outscoring fighters by way of a mixed ranking of 57-10.
The event’s most sensible six issues leaders, and 8 of the highest 10, are Canadian, led by way of Nurse (5-13-18). All 20 of Canada’s skaters registered no less than one level, appearing simply how deep this roster is. Whilst veterans stepped up, as anticipated, we additionally noticed breakout performances by way of a number of freshmen — like Sarah Fillier, for one, whose all-world ability was once on complete show and will likely be for the following decade, no less than.
And for a couple of people, historical past was once made. Along with Poulin’s four-goals-in-four-gold-medal-games feat, right here’s who else wrote their names into the historical past books in Beijing:
Sarah Nurse: Nurse has been an unstoppable power at those Video games, her good fortune upon slotting into the highest line along Poulin and Jenner being one of the crucial highest tales of this Canadian marketing campaign. She went into the general with the event lead in each assists and issues, and he or she leaves the rink with the ones leads intact, a gold medal round her neck, and a slice of hockey historical past.
After opening up the scoring in opposition to the American citizens within the first era of the general for her seventeenth level of those Video games, she assisted on Poulin’s second-period target for her 18th — and with that, a brand new Olympic file was once set for essentially the most issues by way of a person in one Olympics. That file was once prior to now held by way of the good Hayley Wickenheiser, who tallied 17 issues in 5 video games again in Turin 2006. 4 years in the past, Nurse made historical past as the primary Black lady to play hockey on the Olympics. Now, she’s the primary to win gold.
.@nursey16 is the primary Black lady to play Olympic hockey and the primary to win a gold medal!!!!
(: @TeamCanada) percent.twitter.com/aBIOMkLW7A— THE SHIFT (@theshift_sports) February 17, 2022
Nurse was once named to the event’s all-star staff as one of the crucial most sensible 3 forwards, along linemates Poulin and Jenner.
Brianne Jenner: Nurse’s linemate was once at the receiving finish of a number of of her 13 helpers. Whilst Jenner didn’t ranking within the ultimate in opposition to the American citizens, her event was once reasonably an accomplishment as an entire. Her 9 aims in seven video games noticed her lead the sector within the class, tying the single-tournament file set by way of Canada’s Meghan Agosta and Switzerland’s Stefanie Marty at Vancouver 2010. Jenner was once named event MVP for her efforts.
Claire Thompson: Canada introduced a tender staff of defenders to those Video games, with 5 rookie rearguards suiting up in Beijing. All 5 have loved breakout good fortune, none extra so than Thompson. The arriving of Thompson, 24, at the Olympic level has introduced an injection of offence from the blue line — traditionally so. 5 video games into those Video games, Thompson had racked up 9 issues, atmosphere a brand new Olympic file for essentially the most issues by way of a defender in one Olympic event. And she or he didn’t prevent there — 3 extra issues in opposition to Switzerland within the semi-finals plus an lend a hand in opposition to the U.S. within the ultimate upped her file to 13. She was once additionally named to the Olympic all-star staff as a most sensible defender within the event. The way forward for this blue line is phenomenally brilliant.
HILARY KNIGHT, ALL-TIME GREAT
All it took was once a unmarried stride for Hilary Knight to make historical past once more within the ultimate. Previous to the sport, Knight was once tied with USA Hockey greats Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero for many Olympic video games performed by way of an American lady, with 21. Sport No. 22 gave her the file all to herself.
And she or he indisputably made it depend. Past due in the second one era, Knight scored a short-handed target to get Group USA at the board and follow just a little drive at the ranking sheet.
Amanda Kessel were given the U.S. one target nearer to tying issues up with simply 12 seconds to move in law, however the American citizens couldn’t entire the comeback.
TRES BIEN, DESBIENS
4 years in the past, after suiting up for only a unmarried recreation in Pyeonchang as Canada gained silver, Ann-Renee Desbiens concept she was once performed taking part in hockey. She didn’t see a long run within the recreation.
Rapid ahead an Olympic cycle to Beijing, and Desbiens was once again within the crease –and this time, she performed a starring function. Simply ask the American citizens, who confronted her two times in Beijing and got here out at the shedding facet each instances.
After fascinating the country together with her 51-save efficiency in opposition to Group USA to conclude the initial spherical closing week, Desbiens did it once more with a gold medal at the line. She grew to become away 38 of 40 pictures within the 3-2 victory that noticed Group USA outshoot Canada 40-21.
After all, a Canada-USA gold medal matchup simply wouldn’t be the similar with out some heart-stopping heroics of a Canadian goalpost or two as smartly. American citizens Hannah Brandt, who had an open web early within the first body, and Alex Wood worker, who was once eying an identical alternatives within the 3rd, will definitely each be replaying their misplaced alternatives lengthy after returning house. It’s not possible to mention how the ones pictures — in particular Brandt’s probability so early within the recreation – can have formed the result of this one had they long past in.
Desbiens? Extra like tres bien
141 saves within the #Beijing2022 event. percent.twitter.com/Q3yHv0vSGe— Group Canada (@TeamCanada) February 17, 2022
DEPTH & DECISIONS HAUNT TEAM USA
The bad-luck bounces for the American citizens weren’t restricted to only misplaced pictures. Early within the event, the staff misplaced its highest participant in Brianna Decker — a loss that was once felt dearly right through the Video games, in particular on particular groups.
The void within the lineup left by way of Decker additionally uncovered the American citizens’ loss of intensity in comparison to that in their opponents from Canada. Compounding that loss of intensity had been some questionable selections made by way of American head trainer Joel Johnson, who saved a beautiful brief bench on this recreation. Take defenders Jincy Dunne and Caroline Harvey, as an example. Heralded as two brilliant younger items of the rustic’s nationwide staff long run, Dunne sat at the bench for all of the gold-medal recreation whilst Harvey slightly performed. Neither noticed any ice time within the semifinal in opposition to Finland. Ahead Grace Zumwinkle was once extensively utilized minimally.
Whilst it’s customary to tighten up a bench to just your maximum depended on gamers in high-stakes scenarios, Canada’s out-conditioning in their American foes had the U.S. seeking to stay up all recreation lengthy.
Group USA Goaltender Alex Cavallini instructed newshounds that she tore her MCL on Jan. 14 and wasn’t certain she would even make it to Beijing. She didn’t have a complete follow till 3 days after arriving in China, and felt shaky till the medal spherical.
She’s now a silver medalist— Laine Higgins (@lainehiggins17) February 17, 2022
The listing of what-ifs on this one can be lengthy, however it’s transparent that this 12 months, this version of hockey’s highest contention belonged to Canada.
And now, the clock begins ticking — till they meet once more.
