In a thrilling Sunday afternoon clash, the Montreal Victoire snapped a three-game losing streak with a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory over the Minnesota Frost. The hero of the hour was captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored her second goal of the game just 3:12 into the extra period to secure the win for the home side.
Captain Clutch Delivers in Overtime
The game-winning moment came when Marie-Philip Poulin took matters into her own hands, skating through the Minnesota defence before beating goaltender Maddie Rooney with a backhand shot. The goal sent a sold-out crowd of 10,172 fans at Laval's Place Bell into a frenzy and extended Poulin's personal point streak to a career-high five games.
Poulin finished the night with three points, also assisting on the crucial game-tying goal. Her performance was a masterclass in leadership and skill when her team needed it most, pulling Montreal out of last place in the PWHL standings.
A Rollercoaster Third Period
The game seemed destined for a regulation finish until a wild final two minutes of the third period. Kendall Coyne Schofield appeared to have won it for Minnesota, scoring her league-leading eighth goal to give the Frost a 2-1 lead with only 1:50 left on the clock.
However, Montreal refused to quit. With goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens pulled for an extra attacker, Abby Roque tipped in a perfect pass from Poulin with a mere 28.7 seconds remaining to force overtime. It was Roque's fourth goal of the season and set the stage for Poulin's overtime heroics.
Key Performances and Game Details
Abby Roque was the other goal-scorer for Montreal, contributing to the 3-2 final. In net, Ann-Renée Desbiens made 19 saves to backstop the victory.
For the visiting Minnesota Frost, Mae Batherson opened the scoring early in the second period with her second goal of the season. Goaltender Maddie Rooney was busy, making 35 saves in her second consecutive start, but ultimately took the loss.
The Victoire dominated the shot count, outshooting Minnesota 38-21, though the Frost held a 9-7 edge in the first period. Montreal played without national team defender Erin Ambrose, who was sidelined by illness. Minnesota's Dominique Petrie left the game with an injury and did not return.
The victory improves Montreal's record to 3-2-0-4, while Minnesota moves to 4-1-2-3. The Victoire will look to build on this momentum when they face the Vancouver Goldeneyes next Sunday in Quebec City.
