Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin confirmed she competed the entire Walter Cup playoffs with a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee. The 35-year-old forward underwent surgery in late July and faces an indefinite recovery period. Poulin helped Montreal capture its first championship despite the significant knee injury, demonstrating remarkable determination throughout the postseason run.

Poulin initially suffered the injury during the Olympic preliminary round but continued playing for Canada in the knockout stage. She aggravated the damage on March 15 against Boston, forcing her to miss 10 regular season games. Despite this setback, the veteran center returned for the playoffs and delivered an exceptional performance that earned her playoff MVP honors.

During the championship run, Poulin contributed two goals and six assists across nine games while playing through considerable pain. She acknowledged the mental and physical challenges but remained committed to the team's ultimate goal. Her decision to continue playing ultimately paid dividends as Montreal secured the franchise's inaugural PWHL title.

Poulin's legacy includes three Olympic gold medals and the moniker 'Captain Clutch' for scoring decisive goals in championship finals. She ranks as the Canadian women's team's all-time leading goal scorer at the Winter Games with 20 goals. As the PWHL's all-time leader in goals and points, her return timeline will significantly impact Montreal's title defense.