Captain America vs. Captain Clutch: Knight and Poulin face off for 5th and perhaps last Winter Games

Kelly Pannek has spent the past decade enjoying a front-row view of U.S. teammate Hilary Knight and Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin one-upping the other in a fierce, friendly rivalry involving two of the most accomplished players in the history of women's hockey.

Playful and easygoing as the two are away from the rink, Pannek has witnessed the intensity, gamesmanship and dialed-in ability to step up their games in the biggest moments.

''They push each other,'' Pannek said, before recalling the Americans' 6-3 gold-medal win over Canada at the 2023 world championships.

''I laugh actually because Poulin scores on the 5-on-3, and she shot it right over Hilary's foot,'' Pannek said. ''Hilary took that personally, and then scored three goals and won us that game.''

Knight doesn't dispute it. ''Yeah, I was pissed,'' she said, laughing. And, yes, it mattered who scored.

''When a great player finds the back of the net against you, and it's your job to keep it out of the net, you're like, ‘All right, let's go,''' Knight said.

Captain America vs. Captain Clutch

It will be in Milan where the two meet next month for a fifth and potentially final time at the Winter Games.

''If that's the case, it's a shame,'' Team Canada coach Troy Ryan said. ''It's been a privilege to watch and to be witness to the back and forth.''

They are guaranteed one more meeting in a preliminary round matchup on Feb. 10. There is a good chance they will face off again for gold nine days later. At 36, Knight already has announced these Games will be her last. At 34, Poulin has not shed light on her Olympic future.

Veteran U.S. defender Lee Stecklein still can't fathom the thought.

''I'll believe Hilary's done when I see it. I don't believe her,'' she said with a laugh.

Knight has the edge with 10 world championship gold medals to Poulin's four. Knight also holds the world tournament record for goals (67), assists (53) and points (120).

Poulin has shined at the Olympics, earning her ''Captain Clutch'' nickname by scoring the gold medal-winning goal three times. She is second behind Knight on the world championship list with 89 points, and second on the Olympic list with 35 points, trailing former Canadian teammate Hayley Wickenheiser.

''I think it just goes to show that we want to be the best player every single time we hop on the ice, specifically also against one another,'' Knight said. ''And we're going to put on a show.''

National icons

The two are the faces of women's hockey in their respective nations.

''Similar to Hilary,'' added Duggan, Knight's teammate from 2007 to 2018. ''Her ability to just naturally show up in big moments is unlike anything I've ever seen.''

They first met on the international stage at the 2009 world championships, where Poulin made her Team Canada debut. It didn't take long for each to begin taking notice of the other.

Poulin's first memory was falling into the boards on a failed backcheck as Knight broke free to score in overtime of a 3-2 win in the gold-medal game at the 2011 world championships in Zurich.

''Yeah, that's how it started,'' Poulin said, laughing.

For Knight, her first recollection of Poulin came at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

They've gone at it ever since, and even spent a season as teammates in Montreal with the now-defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League.

Their legacies include playing instrumental roles in the growth of women's hockey, and in helping establish the Professional Women's Hockey League. The league, now in its third year, grew from six to eight teams this season, with more expansion on the horizon.

''They're both legends,'' said PWHL executive Jayna Hefford, a Hockey Hall of Famer. ''I think it's a special moment for women's hockey to have the two of them facing off maybe one last time. Who knows, right? Who knows what they might do? I'll feel like a fan watching it and just trying to enjoy it."

Knight has found peace in already calling these her last Olympics. And yet, she continues dropping hints to suggest a potential change of mind.

''Unless you convince me otherwise,'' Knight said in November when asked if she might get the itch again. ''Yeah, maybe. We'll see.''

Two months later, while promoting Hershey's chocolate, Knight excitedly described the electric welcome the PWHL has received during her first season in Seattle.

''It definitely gives you a new life, a new breath,'' she told The Associated Press. ''It's really heartfelt, and it only deepens that want for me to play even longer.''

She has not lost her scoring touch. Last season in Boston, Knight finished tied for the PWHL lead with 29 points. This season, she has two goals and nine points in 13 games.

Count Poulin among the doubters, saying, ''We'll see,'' on whether these might be Knight's last Olympics.

Not in question is Poulin's admiration.

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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.

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