LAVAL, Quebec — On Monday night, the Montreal Victoire triumphed over the Boston Fleet in a decisive 3-1 victory, thanks to a standout performance by Claire Dalton, who contributed a goal and an assist. Along with Dalton, Anna Wilgren and Kristin O’Neill also found the back of the net, while goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens was solid, turning away 18 shots from the opposition.

This win marked the Victoire’s fourth consecutive victory, allowing them to seize the top position in the six-team PWHL standings with a total of 13 points, outpacing the Minnesota Frost by a single point. Meanwhile, the Fleet’s struggles continued, as they suffered their second consecutive defeat, placing them at the bottom of the league standings. Hilary Knight managed to score her third goal of the season for Boston, yet it wasn’t enough to change their fortunes. Emma Soderberg made her season debut as a starter, amassing 28 saves.

**Key Takeaways**
For the Fleet, Knight’s performance is a ray of hope as she moves closer to matching her previous season’s total of six goals. However, Boston’s offensive production has been lackluster, with only 12 goals in six games, continuing a disappointing trend from the last season.
On the Victoire’s side, an impressive defensive effort was on display when they successfully killed a five-minute penalty at the start of the third period. This was bolstered by a single shot allowed after forward Catherine Dubois received a game misconduct for a hit on Boston’s defender, Megan Keller. Montreal also effectively neutralized Boston’s power play, which had been 4 for 10 this season, stopping them from scoring during two additional power play opportunities in the period.

**Key Moment**
The game shifted significantly when O’Neill netted a short-handed goal at 2:48 of the second period, putting Montreal ahead 2-1. The 26-year-old center executed a breakaway that came just after a Boston power play had begun, an occurrence made possible by the league’s “jailbreak” rule.

**Key Stat**
Montreal’s power play continued to struggle, as it now ranks last in the league with a season total of just 2 for 25. Despite having scored twice in their season opener, they have subsequently failed to find the net on their last 18 power play opportunities.

**Upcoming Matches**
Looking ahead, the Victoire will face the Fleet again in Seattle on January 5, as part of three consecutive games during the PWHL’s Takeover Tour. Prior to their clash in Seattle, the Fleet will travel to take on the Minnesota Frost this Thursday.