Ann-Renée Desbiens spent the last five years of her minor hockey career in Quebec City, and on Sunday had the opportunity to play in the city for the first time as a professional. She made 26 saves in a 2-1 Montreal Victoire win over the Ottawa Charge.
Sunday’s game was played at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City in front of a sold out crowd of 18,259. In addition to Desbiens, it also was somewhat of a homecoming for two other players. Marie-Philip Poulin, from nearby Beauce, played in front of her 91 year old grandmother for the first time in “a long time,” she said. Catherine Dubois grew up minutes from the arena for Sunday’s game, and just happened to open the scoring in the second period.
“In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined such a scenario,” Dubois said. “It’s a really special game and I’m really lucky to be living these moments. When I jumped on the ice, I couldn’t see anything because my eyes were full of tears. I tried to calm down a bit. My legs were heavier and my heart was beating faster than usual.”
Dubois, Poulin, Desbiens, and Alexandra Labelle, the team’s four Quebec-born players in the lineup were all in the starting lineup and received big ovations before puck drop.
“I’m happy my heart rate at that moment wasn’t public,” said Desbiens. Desbiens, Dubois, and Poulin all had over 100 friends and family each taking in the game as it is closer to their hometowns than Montreal.
The first period was a showdown between Desbiens and her Team Canada teammate Emerance Maschmeyer. Both goalies went save for save in the opening 20 minutes, and both goaltenders were saved by the post as well. Ottawa had a slight 9-7 edge in shots after one.
In the second period, Montreal’s offence stepped up, but so did Maschmeyer, who has been one of the PWHL’s top goaltender this season. Her .934 save percentage is tied with Corinne Schroeder for top in the league and she has faced the most shots of any goaltender this season.
With two minutes remaining in the second period, Mikyla Grant-Mentis had a scoring chance on a partial breakaway but was held by Danielle Serdachny, giving the Victoire a late period power play.
The first chance of the advantage came from the Charge. Former Montreal player Tereza Vanišová broke behind the Montreal defenders and had a clear breakaway on Desbiens. Vanišová went to her backhand, but Desbiens was able to stretch out her left pad to make the save.
With 31 seconds remaining, Dubois pounced on a rebound from Kati Tabin’s shot and put it past Maschmeyer for her second goal of the season.
C'est tellement parfait qu'elle marque à la maison
— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 19, 2025
So fitting that she scores at home pic.twitter.com/3nkziEkayv
Ottawa kept pushing early in the third period, forcing Desbiens to make more saves, including a sprawling save on a three-on-two rush that featured some great Charge passing. Shortly after that save, Ottawa broke through. Zoe Boyd’s point shot was tipped by Shiann Darkangelo in front of the net and past Desbiens, who couldn’t do anything about it.
The puck appeared to go off of Darkangelo’s glove or forearm, and was reviewed, but it was ruled the goal was not batted in, and was awarded.
Her fourth of the season was scored with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Montreal kept putting chances on net but Maschmeyer stood tall, ending her night with 33 saves.
It was on a power play with under seven minutes remaining where the Victoire took the lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Erin Ambrose, now on the team’s second power play unit, found Kati Tabin at the right circle whose one-timer beat Maschmeyer’s pad to the post for her first goal of the season.
MAIS QUEL TIR SUR RÉCEPTION!
— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 19, 2025
WHAT A ONE-TIMER! pic.twitter.com/IbQKBp162n
Ambrose’s assist was her second of the night, and she now has five points in her last two games and seven in her last five games. Her eight points now ties her for second in league scoring among defenders.
Montreal now has a full week off from practice as they have a break in their schedule after a stretch of five games in 14 days across four different time zones. Their next games will be a back-to-back on January 29 and 30 against the Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres, both at home at Place Bell.
Notes
- Montreal’s power play went 2/3 on Sunday, and is now 4/8 over their last two games. The Victoire power play, which was under 10% at one point not too long ago, is now at 19% and the second power play unit has three of the four goals in those games. Montreal’s penalty kill was 2/2 on Sunday and their penalty kill has moved into fourth spot in the PWHL.
- Laura Stacey missed her second straight game with a lower body injury. The team has said she continues to be evaluated day-to-day and it remains to be seen whether she will return after the team’s week off.
- With the win, Montreal opens up a three-point lead on second place Minnesota and still has a game in hand. Montreal is now 6-2-1-2 (RW-OW-OL-RL).
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