In overtime in Game 2 of the Walter Cup final, it was Marie-Philip Poulin who spotted an opening through the throng of Ottawa Charge players who had surrounded her.
The Montreal Victoire captain sent a no-look pass from the corner to an open Maggie Flaherty, who scored the game winner.
One game earlier, Poulin sent the puck to the front of the net, where defender Nicole Gosling deposited it for the game-tying goal with 2.1 seconds remaining.
When asked how she made the pass through so much traffic to Flaherty, Poulin immediately deflected credit to her teammate, as she always does.
“She found the space,” Poulin said after Saturday’s win. “She’s the one that really put herself in that position.”
Flaherty’s overtime winner puts Victoire 1 win away from a PWHL Walter Cup title
When her teammates complimented her vision to make the pass, Poulin sunk deep into her seat, wishing for it to stop.
“I think we should shut it down soon,” the captain said about the praise other people were giving her.
Many know Poulin for her clutch ability to score big goals when her team needs her the most. She’s done that these playoffs, adding two game-winning tallies in the semifinal series against the Minnesota Frost.
But that doesn’t fully capture the impact of the captain, who is one win away from capturing her first Walter Cup.
It’s also her ability to lift her teammates up, on and off the ice. It’s her defensive acumen, and her desire to block shots.
“She’s the person you want next to you in the hard moments,” said Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, who described Poulin as an even better human than she is a hockey player.
“She’s the person you want to fight with. She’s the person you want to battle for, and I think that’s what this team is going to do.”
This Victoire team has been about much more than its stars. Montreal put together a 16-game point streak from January through April, with Poulin sidelined by injury for many of those games.
Montreal’s depth makes this team different than previous Victoire rosters. Should the Victoire win the Walter Cup, its depth will be a big reason why.
But Poulin is still its heartbeat, whether she’s scoring goals or cheering her team on from the stands.
Despite a lingering injury that has left Poulin wincing on the bench at times, she leads all players in playoff scoring, recording seven points in seven games.
Before the playoffs, Poulin declined to elaborate on her health.
“The heart, the mind is there,” she said. “I’m going to do anything possible to play my game.”
It’s meant using her skill and brain to find ways to help her team be successful.
“I’ve been really impressed with Pou,” head coach Kori Cheverie said after Saturday’s 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.”
Montreal Victoire on cusp of 1st Walter Cup after win against Ottawa Charge
Beyond the ice, Poulin is the team’s emotional leader, the player who her teammates would follow to the end of the earth.
“The things that Pou has done her entire life for hockey, everyone of us looks up to her,” said defender Kati Tabin, who’s played the past three seasons with Poulin.
Last season, Poulin was named the league’s MVP and top forward after leading the league in both goals and points.
Later, Poulin described the year as good, but not good enough. Her team didn’t win the ultimate championship, which means more to Poulin than the individual accolades.
One more win would change that, an idea that gave Desbiens goosebumps when she thought about her captain lifting the Walter Cup.
“I would be so lucky as a teammate to have the opportunity to share this moment with her because of everything she’s done, because of everything she’s still doing and everything she will do after, too,” the goaltender said before the championship series began. “She is a legend. She is Captain Clutch, the one and only one.”
Ottawa Charge in do-or-die situation after Game 2 loss against Montreal Victoire
It won’t come easy. Both of the Victoire’s wins have come in overtime, and Ottawa has been relentless and resilient all season long.
It’s been another strong postseason from Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips, who was last year’s playoff MVP. Ottawa is also a physical team that can wear down opponents.
On top of all that, the series moves to Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre, where the Charge will have last change and the support of the crowd. Montreal will be facing an Ottawa team desperate to stay alive. Game 3 is set for Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
After Saturday’s win, Poulin allowed herself a brief moment to think about lifting the Cup.
“Alongside amazing teammates, friends, it would mean a lot,” she said. “We’re not done yet.”
