LAVAL, Quebec — Lina Ljungblom netted a pair of goals as the Montreal Victoire triumphed over the New York Sirens with a score of 6-2 on Saturday, marking the team’s sixth consecutive victory.
Montreal’s impressive offensive display was highlighted by their six goals, a season high, four of which came in a dominating first period before a charged crowd of 10,172 at Place Bell.
In addition to Ljungblom’s contributions, Abby Boreen, Mariah Keopple, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, and captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who leads the league with 11 goals this season, each found the back of the net for Montreal.
Goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens showcased her skills with 28 saves, securing her league-leading ninth victory of the season.
The Sirens managed to score twice in the second period, with Ella Shelton and Jessie Eldridge each contributing. This match marked New York’s fourth consecutive loss. Sarah Fillier, the top overall pick in last June’s PWHL draft, assisted on both goals, bringing her total to 17 points in 16 games, placing her at the top of the league’s scoring chart.
New York’s starting goalie Corinne Schroeder was replaced after allowing four goals on just seven shots in the first period. Kayle Osborne took over for the second period and recorded 14 saves to stabilize the situation.
Looking at the takeaways, Fillier continued to shine against Montreal, accumulating six points (two goals and four assists) across three matchups this season. Conversely, this victory for the Victoire means they have managed to defeat New York in both of their last two encounters and have avenged their previous 4-1 home loss suffered on December 4, which was their only regulation loss this season.
A pivotal moment came when Ljungblom, who initially scored the opening goal for Montreal, redirected a point shot from Amanda Boulier past Schroeder’s glove with just over a minute left in the first period, extending the lead to 4-0.
In terms of statistics, the Victoire’s four-goal first period set a new PWHL record for the most goals scored by a single team in the opening frame.
Looking ahead, the Victoire will face off against the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday, while the Sirens will host the Boston Fleet the following day.
