MONTREAL — Marie-Philip Poulin made a significant impact as she led the Montreal Victoire to a 3-1 triumph over the Toronto Sceptres on Tuesday night with a goal and an assist. The victory allowed Montreal to break their two-game losing streak. Contributions also came from Jennifer Gardiner and Laura Stacey, helping to solidify the win. In goal, Ann-Renee Desbiens provided a strong performance with 24 saves.
Toronto’s only goal came from Jesse Compher, marking her eighth of the season, while Kristen Campbell stood firm in the net with 21 saves. Before this match, the Sceptres were riding high with a six-game winning streak. The game shifted with 4:54 remaining in the second period when Cayla Barnes brought the puck to Poulin. With remarkable skill, Poulin carved out some space and delivered a precise shot that ricocheted off the post, propelling Montreal to a 2-1 advantage. This goal added to her already impressive tally, making it her league-leading 12th goal and her fifth game-winning goal of the season.
Desbiens showcased her goaltending prowess during the final moments by denying Natalie Spooner from scoring, ensuring the Victoire maintained their lead. Subsequently, the puck was swiftly cleared, and Stacey outpaced her opponents to nullify the threat of icing and confirmed the victory with an empty-net goal.
The contest began with Toronto taking an early lead just over four minutes in after Compher found the back of the net with a wrist shot, capitalizing on a turnover in Montreal’s offensive zone instigated by Renata Fast. This goal marked Compher’s fourth against the Victoire over four games.
Montreal equalized the scoring early in the second period. Poulin played a key role by winning a battle along the boards and delivering the puck to Stacey, who deftly connected with Gardiner located at the side of the net. Gardiner converted the setup into a goal with a swift one-timer past Campbell.
Toronto was notably missing Hannah Miller, the league’s leading scorer, due to a lower-body injury, which the team described her status as day-to-day.
Takeaways from the game included a struggling Toronto power play, which for the first time in ten games, ended without a goal. Meanwhile, Montreal’s frontline trio of Gardiner, Stacey, and Poulin made their presence felt, accounting for three goals on 11 shots.
One critical moment unfolded when Desbiens thwarted Spooner in the closing moments, leading to Stacey’s game-sealing empty-net goal. Additionally, Gardiner’s game-winning goal was her fourth of the season, with Stacey and Poulin each logging their fourth assist on the play.
Looking ahead, the Sceptres are set to take on Montreal once more on March 6, while the Victoire will face Boston on Saturday.
