In a tightly contested Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) matchup, the Montreal Victoire edged out the Vancouver Goldeneyes with a narrow 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon. The game, held at the Centre Vidéotron in Quebec City, was ultimately decided by a stellar performance in net and a single, crucial goal.
Desbiens Stands Tall for Third Career Shutout
The story of the game was written by Montreal's goaltender, Ann-Renée Desbiens. Facing 26 shots from the Vancouver offense, Desbiens turned away every single one to secure a clean sheet. This remarkable performance marks her third career shutout in the PWHL, underscoring her status as one of the league's premier netminders. Her composure and key saves throughout the contest provided the foundation for Montreal's win.
Gosling Nets Decisive Goal
With Desbiens holding the fort at one end, the Victoire needed just one breakthrough at the other. That moment came at 12:17 of the second period when defender Nicole Gosling found the back of the net. The goal was not only the game-winner but also held personal significance for Gosling, as it was her first tally of the 2025-26 PWHL season. For Vancouver, Emerance Maschmeyer was nearly as impressive in goal, making 25 saves in a tough-luck losing effort.
Standings Impact and Fan Support
The victory provides a boost to Montreal's position in the league standings. The Victoire now hold a record of 4-2-0-4, good for 16 points. Vancouver, despite the loss, earned a point from the narrow regulation defeat, moving their record to 3-1-1-7 for 12 points. The game was part of the PWHL's Takeover Tour, designed to bring games to major venues across Canada, and it succeeded in drawing an impressive crowd of 14,624 passionate fans to the Quebec City arena.
Montreal will look to carry this momentum into their next contest, a Tuesday night showdown against the Ottawa Charge at Place Bell in Laval. Meanwhile, Vancouver will regroup and seek to bounce back in their subsequent outing.
