Poulin injured in Canada's win over Czechia

Canada's women's hockey team cruised to a 5-1 win over Czechia at the Olympics on Monday, but it came at a cost.

Captain Marie-Philip Poulin exited the group-stage contest in the first period with an apparent lower-body injury after being hit into the boards by Kristyna Kaltounkova. Poulin managed to skate off the ice under her own power, remaining on the bench to talk with the training staff before heading to the locker room. She briefly returned to the bench but didn't take another shift and then didn't come back out after the first intermission. Kaltounkova received a minor penalty for an illegal hit.

Canada's head coach Troy Ryan didn't have an update on Poulin after the game, according to CBC reporter Claire Hanna.

Playing in her fifth Games, Poulin is one tally shy from tying Canadian legend Hayley Wickenheiser's Olympic record of 18 career goals in women's hockey. She has notably scored the gold-medal-winning goal at the 2010, 2014, and 2022 Olympics.

The 34-year-old is the PWHL's reigning Billie Jean King MVP with the Montreal Victoire and the top scorer in the league's three-season history.

Drafted first overall by the New York Sirens last summer, Kaltounkova leads the PWHL in goals (11) and penalty minutes (31) this season.

Canada led 1-0 when Poulin sustained the injury before extending its advantage to 4-0 by the end of the first period.

Julia Gosling potted two goals and was joined on the scoresheet by Kristin O'Neill, Sarah Fillier, and Laura Stacey. Ann-Renee Desbiens improved to 7-0 in her Olympic career with 18 saves.

Canada faces the United States in the marquee matchup of preliminary play on Tuesday at 2:10 p.m. ET. Both teams are undefeated.