Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Jennifer Gardiner continued to lead the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire helping the first place Victoire hand the Toronto Sceptres a 3-1 regulation loss. Poulin was the top performer on the night scoring a goal and an assist to get Montreal back in the win column on home ice. The decision also snapped Toronto’s six game win streak.
Poulin, however, pointed her praise at netminder Ann-Renee Desbiens who made 24-saves in Montreal’s win. It was her tenth victory of the season, tying for the league lead. Poulin says that she feeds off her longtime Canadian teammate.
“100% I do. I don’t think we need to say much. If we look at each other, I don’t even tap the pads, it’s one look, one wink, and honestly, we both know we don’t need to say much,” said Desbiens. “And honestly, I’ve been lucky enough to see a ton of games where Anne-Renée saves us, and I’m pretty fortunate in part of that.”
Poulin was also re-united with Laura Stacey on the Victoire’s top line alongside Jennifer Gardiner. Gardiner scored Montreal’s first of the game, while Stacey scored the empty net insurance marker.
“That group did lead the way and settled us down when we needed to, especially that big save on the screen at the end. It was huge,” said head coach Kori Cheverie. “You know your top players have to show up in those moments, and that’s why they are where they are in their careers, and I am really proud of them tonight.”
Jesse Compher had Toronto’s goal in the loss. Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan took positives from the game.
“With the loss, I just said to our group, I’m very proud of our group,” said Ryan. “Where we were seven or eight games ago to where we’re at today, and to do that on a 12-day road trip with some east to west, west to east travel, I think they deserve a lot of credit for the effort they put forward and to make it that battle for first place that it was tonight.”
