Victoire vs. Sceptres recap & highlights: Montreal’s top players step up to end slide

Marie-Philip Poulin had a goal and an assist, and the top line had all three goals as the Montreal Victoire beat the Toronto Sceptres 3-1 at Place Bell on Tuesday night.

The win snapped both Montreal’s modest two-game losing streak and Toronto’s six-game winning streak. Montreal extended their lead over second-place Toronto to five points and still hold three games in hand.

Toronto opened the scoring 4:10 into the game when Jesse Compher fired a wrist shot past Ann-Renée Desbiens. It was Compher’s eighth goal of the season and she has scored a goal in all four games against Montreal this season. It was the only shot to beat Desbiens, who made 24 straight saves to close out the game as Compher’s shot was the first shot of the game.

Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie put Laura Stacey back on the top line with Poulin and Jennifer Gardiner. The line combined to tie the game early in the second period. Poulin won a puck battle and got the puck to Stacey behind the net, who quickly passed it to Gardiner at the side of the net who one-timed a shot past Kristen Campbell.

Cette line est dangereuse😮‍💨

That line is dangerous pic.twitter.com/yoA3UWTMiC

— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) February 26, 2025

It was Gardiner’s fourth goal of the season, and Stacey and Poulin both recorded their fourth assists of the year on the goal, which was scored at the 4:01 mark of the second period.

“[Stacey] brings that ability to turn the puck over and I felt like in the past couple of games we weren’t having as much success on the forecheck and we were rewarded tonight with those three each getting a goal,” Cheverie said.

The Victoire took the lead with 4:54 left in the period. Cayla Barnes chipped the puck up to Poulin, who created space for herself and wired a shot past Campbell. It was Poulin’s 12th goal of the season, which leads the PWHL.

Là où maman cache les biscuits 🍪

Absolute snipe omg pic.twitter.com/QJ3IaQr9SJ

— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) February 26, 2025

Toronto’s best chance may have been when a puck got past Desbiens in the final minute of the second period, but Anna Wilgren took the puck off the line and kept it a 2-1 game.

Hey Anna, un gros merci pour cet arrêt

Anna, we thank you for your service pic.twitter.com/8e4uhVO7t8

— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) February 26, 2025

The score remained that way until the final minute of the game. With Campbell pulled, and the extra attacker out, the puck made its way to Natalie Spooner alone in front. Desbiens made the save and the puck was quickly cleared by Mikyla Grant-Mentis. Once it was clear the puck was going wide of the empty net, it looked like it would be icing. Laura Stacey had other ideas.

She won the footrace to the puck, which negated the icing and left he with a wide open net to seal the 3-1 win.

Stacey a activé les jets

Stacey turned on the jets pic.twitter.com/XQAMv46HiL

— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) February 26, 2025

“The speed of Laura… [I’m] really thankful for it,” Desbiens said. “When I saw it was her, I was like ‘we’re winning that race and that’s a goal for us.’”

The Victoire’s next game will be hosting the Boston Fleet at the Bell Centre on Saturday afternoon. There are still currently tickets available, but most of the upper bowl has already been sold.

Notes

• Toronto’s power play went 0/2, making it the first time in 10 games they did not score a power play goal. The regulation loss also snapped their nine-game point streak.
• Erin Ambrose returned to the lineup for Montreal after missing Saturday’s game with a virus. Kelly-Ann Nadeau was scratched.
• Ann-Renée Desbiens extended her streak of not allowing more than two goals to 11 games. She has won 10 of her 13 starts this season, to lead the league.
• Montreal earned their 13th win of the season to match their season total from a year ago, albeit in six fewer games. Their 10th regulation win also matched last year’s total.

Standings