Desbiens' Masterful Shutout Performance Lifts Victoire to Second Place in PWHL
In a commanding display of defensive prowess, goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens led the Montreal Victoire to a decisive 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. This crucial win not only completed a season sweep against the Frost but also propelled Montreal into second place in the Professional Women's Hockey League standings with just eight games remaining in the regular season.
Goaltending Excellence and Strategic Scoring
Desbiens was nothing short of spectacular between the pipes, turning away all 21 shots she faced to secure her fifth shutout of the campaign. Her performance was complemented by timely scoring from Catherine Dubois, Hayley Scamurra, and Lina Ljungblom, who each found the back of the net in what proved to be a comprehensive team victory.
The game remained scoreless through the first period, with both teams testing each other's defenses. The breakthrough came late in the second period when Frost defender Lee Stecklein's attempted pass from behind the net went awry. Dubois capitalized on the miscue, collecting the loose puck in the high slot and firing a precise one-timer past Minnesota goaltender Maddie Rooney with just 41 seconds remaining in the period.
Montreal extended their lead early in the third period when Scamurra pounced on a rebound from a long-range shot that Rooney couldn't control. Showing excellent poise, Scamurra stickhandled around the scrambling goaltender to double the Victoire's advantage.
The final nail in the coffin came five minutes later as the Frost were caught in a line change. Ljungblom received a crisp pass from Kati Tabin at the Minnesota blue line, creating a clean breakaway opportunity that she converted with a perfectly placed shot into the top corner of the net.
Post-Game Reflections and Season Implications
After the game, Desbiens praised her teammates' collective effort, stating, "It was a really big team effort from every single player out there. I thought we kept working hard. And when you wear a team down after two, three periods, sometimes it takes a little longer to get rewarded with goals. But, obviously, Dubois had a nice shot on that goal. Lina, Hayley Scamurra, all players that always work so hard, so it was nice to see them rewarded with goals tonight."
This victory marked Montreal's tenth consecutive game without a regulation loss and completed a perfect 4-0 season series sweep against Minnesota. Notably, two of those victories came via overtime goals from captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who is currently on the team's long-term injured reserve list. The Frost's only two shutout losses this season both came at the hands of the Victoire.
Rooney, who suffered her first regulation loss since January 3, made 25 saves on 28 shots in a valiant effort for Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Victoire welcomed Italian defender and national team captain Nadia Mattivi, who made her debut with the team after signing on Monday, contributing 8:34 of ice time and registering one shot on goal.
Standings Shakeup and Upcoming Milestones
With this result, Montreal now sits at 43 points in the PWHL standings, one point ahead of Minnesota and just two points behind the league-leading Boston Fleet. All teams have eight games remaining as they jockey for position ahead of the playoffs, where the top four teams will compete for the Walter Cup.
The Victoire's next challenge comes on Saturday as part of the league's Takeover Tour in Detroit, where they'll face the New York Sirens. This matchup holds historical significance as it will mark the PWHL's first-ever nationally televised game in the United States, following a broadcast agreement with network Ion that also includes coverage of the Walter Cup finals.
As the regular season enters its final stretch, Montreal's combination of stellar goaltending, timely scoring, and defensive discipline has positioned them as serious contenders in the rapidly evolving landscape of professional women's hockey.
