Canada routed by the US without injured Marie-Philip Poulin, optimistic she'll return at Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Injured captain Marie-Philip Poulin's absence was evident in Canada's 5-0 loss to the U.S. on Tuesday night in the first of what is usually two showdowns at the Olympics between the two powerhouses of women's hockey.

Poulin did not play after limping off and leaving the game against Czechia on Monday night with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Coach Troy Ryan said it is doubtful that Poulin plays Thursday against Finland in the round-robin finale, though Canada is hopeful the 34-year-old center known as “Captain Clutch” will be back before the end of the tournament.

“We’re optimistic that she will return during these Olympics,” Ryan said. "All I’ve really been told from medical is that (it is) not as bad as they originally thought, so we’re definitely optimistic that she’ll be back.”

While she may not have been enough to change the outcome of what turned out to be a lopsided result, Poulin's uncertain status is a huge question for the defending gold medalists.

“When you miss a game at the Olympics, obviously it’s not a great feeling, so I think that alone is obviously weighing on her chest,” said forward Laura Stacey, who is married to Poulin. "But she’s a strong person, so I think it’s just another opportunity, another bump in the road, a rock in the water that she’s going to find a way to get back up from and come back stronger.”

Poulin is Canada's active leader against the U.S. with 74 points on 42 goals and 32 assists in 104 games. Not being able to play knocked the team down to 12 forwards, and American domination followed.

“She’s irreplaceable (so) it changes a lot of things," Ryan said. "I don’t think that’s the reason why we have the performance that we have tonight, but you just miss her everywhere. Your power play’s a little less lethal, your penalty kill even at times and then just having the faceoff (prowess), winning those puck-possession plays. She’s just very valuable to have, so you notice her in all aspects of the game.”

Goaltender Anne-Renee Desbiens took some of the blame, saying, “I guess I should have made more saves,” but the U.S. had the puck so much that she was under siege much of the night. Much of that was the Americans putting on tons of pressure.

“Canada is unbelievable,” U.S. defenseman Caroline Harvey said. “The players they had tonight were unbelievable, but of course, Poulin’s a vital, huge part of their team. And I never like to see a player go down like that. It's really sad, so, thinking of her, praying for her, hoping she gets to return soon.”

Poulin is one of the nation’s most decorated female players and earned her nickname by having scored three gold medal-clinching goals. Making her fifth appearance, Poulin’s 17 goals at the Olympics are one short of matching Canada’s career record held by Hayley Wickenheiser.

“She’s the heart of this team — there’s no secret about that — but so many players can step up and just make a 1% difference,” Desbiens said. “We want her to rest and recover and obviously get better so once we get her back, she’s going to be there to have an impact."

Canada would be favored to get through the quarterfinals Saturday and semifinals next week even without Poulin, but a rematch against the U.S. in the final on Feb. 19 would look like a herculean task if she cannot play.

“We’re a team," Stacey said. "At the end of the day, it’s going to take all 23 of us. That includes her. Whether she’s in the lineup or not, I think we need every single person to have an impact and that’s going to be our best chances of having success here.”

AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) is down on the ice in the first period against Czechia during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) gathers with teammates during warmups before a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey against Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) is down on the ice in the first period against Czechia during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) skates during warmups before a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey against Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

CAIRO (AP) — Pakistan’s interior minister was in Tehran on Sunday in a fresh bid to restart negotiations between Iran and the U.S., as the American military said it shot down two more Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz that threatened international maritime traffic.

The latest action came as the U.S. administration presses Iran to make a deal to end the war in the Middle East, which has strained the global economy and threatened a hunger crisis in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.

The heaviest fighting ended with a preliminary ceasefire on April 8, but the sides have not been able to agree on a long-term end to the war.

Fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah continued, meanwhile, despite last week's announcement that a U.S.-brokered ceasefire had been extended.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is in Tehran to deliver a message to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei from Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to Iranian state-run IRNA news agency.

Khamenei has not been seen in public since he was named the Islamic Republic’s ruler after his father was killed on the first day of the war on Feb. 28 when the U.S. and Israel lauched a bombardment campaign against Iran.

Naqvi met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni late Saturday, and held talks Sunday morning with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to official Iranian media.

There were no details on the contents of the message. Pakistani authorities have said Islamabad, with support from regional countries including Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, has been working to help bridge differences between the United States and Iran and encourage efforts aimed at reducing tensions and ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the new ceasefire in Lebanon, which was announced during U.S-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington last week, did not appear to be holding.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah has rejected the U.S.-brokered deal and instead endorsed Iran’s demand that ending the war in Lebanon be part of the negotiations with the U.S.

Israel struck what it said were over 150 Hezbollah military sites over the weekend, including rocket launchers and command centers, across southern Lebanon.

Early Sunday, Israel identified at least five projectiles launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel, which were intercepted or fell in open areas. Hezbollah did not immediately claim to have fired projectiles at Israel. However, the militant group acknowledged it attacked Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.

Two Israeli soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon on Saturday, the Israeli military said.

The fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south in its latest ground invasion, threatens efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for oil and gas. Its closure has jolted the world economy.

Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, wants to press ahead with Israel’s offensive until he considers Hezbollah no longer poses a threat.

Lebanon’s army commander, Gen. Rodolphe Haikal, headed to Pakistan Saturday at the invitation of Pakistan’s army chief. The Lebanese army gave no further details and did not say whether it is related to Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the U.S.

The U.S. military said Saturday that it had shot down several Iranian missiles and drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf Arab allies, and struck some of the Islamic Republic’s coastal surveillance radar sites in response.

“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” U.S. Central Command said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had targeted the Ali Al Salem air base, which hosts U.S. forces in Kuwait, and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The U.S. military said there were no reports of harm to U.S. personnel.

Earlier in the month, Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s main airport, killing one person and wounding dozens.

The U.S. military has kept up its blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s grip on the strait, a crucial corridor for global oil and natural gas shipments.

Energy prices have spiked, posing political problems for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party ahead of midterm congressional elections in November.

Chehayeb reported from Beirut and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel.

A man walks past anti-U.S. graffiti painted on the wall of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

People walk under a banner showing portraits of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, left, and the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)