Victoire Secure Home Ice, Become First PWHL Team Ever To Reach 60 Points
The Montreal Victoire locked down home ice advantage for the first round of the PWHL playoffs, and in the process became the first team in league history to hit the 60 point mark in the regular season.
The Montreal Victoire won their seventh straight, collecting their 60th point of the season in only their 28th game beating the Boston Fleet 3-2 in overtime. The win came in front of a sold out crowd of 10,172 at Place Bell, which also saw the league welcome their one-millionth fan this season. The win was also Ann-Renee Desbiens' 40th career victory, making her the first goaltender to reach the mark.
Jade Downie-Landry opened the scoring early in the first period poking a puck through Abbey Levy who was making her third start of the season. Only three minutes later, Kaitlin Willoughby scored her third of the year pouncing on a puck net front before making a move around Levy to make the game 2-0. Late in the second period, Jessie Eldridge got the Fleet on the board tipping a point shot five hole on Desbiens.
And midway through the third, with pressure on, Daniela Pejsova came in from the left point and buried a shot to tie the game and send it to overtime tied 2-2. Pejsova however, took a penalty with time expiring in the game, one that gave Montreal the player advantage to open the extra frame. With home ice in the playoffs on the line for both teams, Montreal capitalized on their advantage for the win.
Abbey Roque worked the puck to Nicole Gosling who cycled high into the slot before writing a shot beating Levy. Montreal's win secured the Victoire home ice in the opening round of the playoffs. They now hold a two point lead over Boston for first overall with two games remaining for both teams.