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Victoire @ Frost recap & highlights: Montreal clinches playoff spot

Posted on by Jared Book
Laura Stacey had four points in Montreal's win. (Photo by Bjorn Franke/PWHL)

Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey both had two goals as the Montreal Victoire became the first PWHL team to clinch a playoff spot in the 2024-25 season after a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Frost at Xcel Energy Centre on Wednesday night.

Stacey also added two assists for a four point night. Elaine Chuli made 19 saves for her first win since the injury to Ann-Renée Desbiens. The regulation win puts Montreal at 48 points, three points ahead of the Toronto Sceptres, who beat the Boston Fleet in regulation on Wednesday night.

“It’s nice for sure,” said Cheverie about clinching a spot. “It was definitely an objective of ours that we have now achieved. We can celebrate it and enjoy it tonight. And then for our group, we just continue to push forward and continue to focus on what’s next, and that comes back to our process and how we want to approach each game.”

Montreal opened the scoring with a new (but old) top line leading the way. Kristin O’Neill was put on the left of Poulin and Stacey, which is how the team ended last season, but is not a combination that has been used so far this year.

Stacey poked the puck ahead into space allowing Poulin to win a race against Lee Stecklein. Poulin then had a breakaway and fired a shot past Maddie Rooney to give Montreal a 1-0 lead just 5:50 into the game.

Early in the second period, Montreal struck again with their top line. This time O’Neill brought the puck to the front of the net where Stacey had the opportunity to put the puck into the open side of the net.

O’Neill has been the team’s second line centre for the entire season, but although she plays tough minutes and takes a lot of defensive zone faceoffs, her production was not there. Her assist on Stacey’s goal was her fifth point of the season and the first since January 5, ending an 18 game drought.

Minnesota responded a few minutes later when Kelly Pannek drove the net and put the puck past Chuli for her third goal of the season to make it 2-1.

It appeared like Montreal had made it 3-1 late in the second period when Catherine Dubois pounced on a loose puck and beat Rooney, but O’Neill made contact with the goaltender in the crease, and the goal was disallowed.

Entering the third period, it was looking like another tightly contested game, and Minnesota had their best chance of the game. Stecklein made a cross-ice pass to Michela Cava at the side of the net, but Chuli made a sprawling glove save to keep it a 2-1 game. It was by far the best of Chuli’s saves as Montreal did a good job of keeping Minnesota outside of the most dangerous areas.

“It was huge,” said Stacey about the save. “I think at that point in the game, having your goaltender be able to back you up and make a save like that. All of us on the bench couldn’t believe it. It’s huge for our team. Every single person tonight was willing to do their job and go above and beyond. It was a huge save at a very important time that led to a lot of great things happening for us after, and that was a big one for us and for her, and we definitely let her know it.”

Less than 30 seconds after that save, Montreal extended their lead. Jenn Gardiner won a puck battle along the boards to Poulin, who fed Laura Stacey in the slot. The shot was saved but the rebound went right to Poulin in front of the net, who made no mistake.

The goal was Poulin’s second of the game and league-leading 17th goal of the season.

The Victoire didn’t sit back on the 3-1 lead knowing the playoffs were on the line. After Brooke McQuigge took an interference penalty, Denisa Křížová cleared the puck over the glass giving Montreal a five-on-three for 43 seconds.

After a timeout was called, Montreal wasted no time. Great puck movement between Erin Ambrose, Cayla Barnes, and Poulin led to a open Stacey one-timer from her spot on the left circle. She powered the puck into the net to make it 4-1.

The goal was Stacey’s 10th goal of the season (and second of the game), making her and Poulin the fourth set of teammates to have double digits in goals.

Montreal has four games remaining in their season. The win in Minnesota ended a three-game losing streak, and was their first regulation win since February 25, a span of seven games.

The league will be on a break for the World Championship from April 3-25.

Standings

TEAM GP GR RW OW SW OL RL PTS GF GA MAX PTS MAGIC TRAGIC #1 HOME
MTL 26 4 11 3 3 3 6 48 69 59 60 X – 10 8
TOR 26 4 12 2 0 5 7 45 68 62 57 3 23 13 11
BOS 25 5 8 2 4 4 7 40 68 59 55 8 21 18 16
MIN 26 4 7 3 2 4 10 35 69 71 47 13 13 23 21
OTT 25 5 9 1 0 4 11 33 60 73 48 15 14 25 23
NY 26 4 6 3 1 4 12 30 65 75 42 18 8 – –

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