Victoire Advance to Third Straight Post-Season

Rebecca Labaj

The Montreal Victoire are headed to the playoffs once again, becoming the first team to advance in all three seasons. 

Thus far the Victoire have been in the early groups of clinching, but haven’t found success in the first round. In the inaugural season the Victoire faced the Boston Fleet after the Toronto Sceptres opted to play the Minnesota Frost. In year 2, the Victoire had their pick and opted to select the Ottawa Charge avoiding a matchup with the reigning champs, Minnesota Frost. 

Their playoff runs have been some of the longest despite the early exit, playing nine overtime periods across post-seasons, including the longest game in PWHL history last year when they headed to quadruple overtime against the Ottawa Charge, beating the high of 3 set in the inaugural season when Montreal faced Boston. Heading into year three will the Victoire be a part of another historic game? We’ll have to wait to find out. 

This season the Victoire only have one loss at home coming against the Boston Fleet who forged a late comeback with four unanswered goals in 14 minutes including the game-winner from Ella Huber in overtime. 

Heading into their last match the Victoire needed a regulation win to clinch on their own, and so they did. The game saw the return of defender Erin Ambrose who missed 8 games due to an injury sustained at the Olympics. 

The Victoire continue to deal with injuries, as Captain Marie Philip-Poulin remains out after appearing to re-aggravate her lower-body injury that she sustained during the Olympics. In her absence, wife Laura Stacey has stepped up recording 6 points in the last 5 games. 

The Victoire are back in action tonight against the Ottawa Charge who are looking to climb back into a playoff position after the Toronto Sceptres found a 2-1 win at the Calgary Takeover Tour to overtake the Charge. 

So far the Victoire are 2 and 1 against the Charge this season, with their loss coming on the Winnipeg Takeover Tour, that saw Rebecca Leslie score the game-winner in overtime. 

This is the first game the PWHL is playing at the Canadian Tire Centre, with a packed house will the Victoire upset the hosts? Or will the Charge set the kazoos on fire? Tune in tonight at 7 PM (EST) to find out.