Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey led Montreal Victoire to clinch the first PWHL playoff spot of the season by defeating Minnesota Frost 4-1 in St. Paul, Minnesota. With this victory, Montreal (11-6-3-6) claimed the top spot in the standings after securing their first regulation win in six road games. Toronto briefly tied for first place earlier in the evening but Montreal’s win pushed them ahead with 45 points.
Minnesota (7-5-4-10) returned home after 36 days, struggling to score with only 13 goals in their last seven games, five of which were scored in a single game against Ottawa. Poulin extended her lead in goals to 17, recording her 11th game of the season with at least one goal and three shots on goal, the most in the league.
Laura Stacey also shined with two goals and two assists, marking her first career four-point game. Victoire’s goalie Elaine Chuli made 19 saves out of 20 shots to secure the win for her team.
In another game, the Toronto Sceptres defeated the Boston Fleet 4-2, with Daryl Watts scoring two crucial goals in the third period to bring her season tally to 10. Toronto (12-2-5-7) continued their strong road form, winning five of their last six away games. Boston (8-6-4-7) saw their nine-game points streak end after returning to Agganis Arena.
Toronto’s quick goals in the third period turned the tide of the game, with Watts and Hayley Scamurra scoring within a span of one minute and 34 seconds to take a 2-1 lead. Renata Fast and Hilary Knight added goals for their respective teams, but Watts sealed the win with her second goal on a 5-on-3 power play. The game marked another multi-goal victory for Toronto, continuing their trend of high-scoring wins against Boston.
The matchup between Montreal and Toronto for the PWHL playoff spot showcased the top talents in the league, with both teams displaying their offensive prowess and defensive resilience throughout the games.
