The Montreal Victoire's impressive four-game winning streak came to a halt on Tuesday night, as they fell 2-1 to the expansion Seattle Torrent in the first-ever meeting between the two Professional Women's Hockey League franchises.
Seattle's Murphy Stands Tall to Secure Win
The game started brightly for the visiting Victoire. Abby Roque opened the scoring at 18:37 of the first period, giving Montreal an early lead they hoped to carry forward. However, Seattle's response was swift and determined. Torrent goaltender Hannah Murphy put on a stellar performance, turning aside 30 shots over the final two periods to anchor her team's comeback.
Seattle's offense came alive in the second period. Alex Carpenter tied the game at 3:32, capitalizing on a setup from Julia Gosling. The decisive blow came early in the third, when Julia Gosling scored the game-winner at 3:23, completing a multi-point night. Murphy's composure was tested late as Montreal pulled goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens for an extra attacker during a Torrent penalty in the final two and a half minutes, but she held firm to preserve the victory. Desbiens made 21 saves in the loss for Montreal.
Family Ties and Playoff Implications
The game featured a special family connection. Seattle's goal-scorer, Julia Gosling, is the cousin of Montreal rookie forward Nicole Gosling. "To both be here, it's definitely something that we don't take for granted," said Nicole Gosling after the game, though she added, "it would have been nice to get the win." Julia Gosling's performance marked her third multi-point game of the season.
Despite the setback, Montreal Head Coach Kori Cheverie focused on the positives from a challenging 10-day road trip. "You can't just look at this last game or last period," Cheverie stated. "From the whole trip, we take what we need from this game... and then we move into the Bell Centre."
Looking Ahead to the Holiday Break
The result reshuffles the standings as the league heads into its holiday break. The Victoire are now tied for second place with 11 points, sporting a record of 3-1-0-2. They sit seven points behind the league-leading Boston team and just one point ahead of the fourth-place Seattle Torrent, who are enjoying a strong inaugural campaign.
Montreal will return to action on Saturday, December 27th, for a highly anticipated home game at the Bell Centre. They will face the Toronto Sceptres, who are also tied for second with 11 points. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m., with the game broadcast on CBC and Radio-Canada. Ticket sales are brisk, with most lower-bowl seats in the 21,000-seat arena already sold; upper-level seats start at $35.50.
