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In overtime of Game 2 in the Walter Cup final, Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin found a gap amid a swarm of Ottawa Charge players. She delivered a no-look pass from the corner to Maggie Flaherty, who scored the game-winning goal.
Just one game earlier, Poulin set up defender Nicole Gosling for a crucial game-tying goal with 2.1 seconds left on the clock. When asked how she managed to thread the pass through so much traffic to Flaherty, Poulin immediately credited her teammate. “She found the space,” Poulin said after Saturday’s win. “She’s the one that really put herself in that position.”
Known for her clutch scoring, Poulin has delivered key goals this postseason, including two game-winning tallies in the semifinals against the Minnesota Frost. But her impact goes beyond scoring. She leads the playoffs in points with seven in seven games despite playing through a lingering injury. Her defensive skills and willingness to block shots also stand out.
“She’s the person you want next to you in the hard moments,” said Montreal goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, who praised Poulin as an extraordinary teammate on and off the ice. “She’s the person you want to fight with. She’s the person you want to battle for. That’s what this team is going to do.”
The Victoire’s success is built on much more than Poulin alone. Montreal put together an impressive 16-game point streak from January to April, even with Poulin sidelined for many games. The team’s depth sets them apart from past years, though Poulin remains its heart and soul, whether scoring or encouraging from the bench.
Before the playoffs, Poulin kept details about her health private. “The heart, the mind is there,” she said. “I’m going to do anything possible to play my game.” Her smart play and leadership have been critical to Montreal’s push.
Head coach Kori Cheverie praised Poulin’s influence after the latest win. “You all know where she’s at. I think she has seven points in seven games. She continues to have a huge impact on our team. I know that’s what she wants, regardless of whether she scores the goal or not.”
Off the ice, Poulin serves as the emotional anchor for the Victoire. “The things that Pou has done her entire life for hockey, every one of us looks up to her,” said defender Kati Tabin, who has played alongside Poulin for three seasons.
Last season, Poulin earned the league MVP and top forward awards, leading in both goals and points. Still, she described the year as good but not good enough without the ultimate team championship.
One more victory will change that. Desbiens is eager to see the captain lift the Walter Cup. “I would be so lucky as a teammate to share this moment with her because of everything she’s done, everything she’s still doing, and everything she will do after, too,” Desbiens said. “She is a legend. She is Captain Clutch, the one and only one.”
Game 3 of the best-of-five series is set for Monday at 6 p.m. ET in Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre. The Charge, down 2-0, must win three straight to keep their Walter Cup hopes alive. Ottawa has been relentless all season, boosted by last year’s playoff MVP goaltender Gwyneth Philips, and their physical style makes them a tough opponent.
After Saturday’s intense overtime victory, Poulin briefly allowed herself to imagine hoisting the Cup. “Alongside amazing teammates, friends, it would mean a lot,” she said. “We’re not done yet.”
