Marie-Philip Poulin netted her second goal in overtime to secure a 3-2 victory for the Montreal Victoire against the Minnesota Frost in a thrilling Professional Women’s Hockey League match on Sunday afternoon. Skilfully maneuvering past the Minnesota defense, Poulin’s backhand shot found the net, beating goaltender Maddie Rooney in front of a packed crowd of 10,172 at Place Bell. This goal extended Poulin’s point streak to five consecutive games.
Abby Roque also found the back of the net for Montreal, with Poulin contributing an assist for a three-point performance. Ann-Renee Desbiens stood strong in goal, making 19 saves for the Victoire. On the other side, Mae Batherson and Kendall Coyne Schofield scored for Minnesota, with Rooney making 35 saves in her back-to-back starts.
The game was pushed to overtime due to two late goals in the third period. Coyne Schofield’s eighth goal of the season gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead with just 1:50 left on the clock. However, Roque managed to tie the game with 28.7 seconds remaining in regulation, tipping in Poulin’s pass with the extra attacker on the ice.
Batherson initiated the scoring with a goal early in the second period, firing a shot from the left circle past Desbiens. Despite being outshot 38-21 by Montreal, the Frost showcased resilience throughout the game.
Notably, Montreal played without Erin Ambrose due to illness, while Minnesota’s Dominique Petrie exited the game due to injury and did not return.
In terms of takeaways, Minnesota concluded a demanding four-game road trip with two victories, earning six out of a possible 12 points. Meanwhile, Montreal, led by Poulin, halted a three-game losing streak. The Victoire had slipped to the bottom of the PWHL standings but managed to turn the tide with late heroics from Poulin and Roque.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred as Coyne Schofield and Roque exchanged goals in the final moments of regulation, forcing the game into overtime. Additionally, Kendall Cooper’s assist on Batherson’s goal set a new PWHL record with a six-game assist streak.
Looking ahead, the Victoire are set to face the Vancouver Goldeneyes in Quebec City next Sunday, while the Frost will host the Seattle Torrent on the same day.
