It was a battle of two juggernauts on Wednesday night (March 25) as the Montreal Victoire visited the Minnesota Frost at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Victoire came in seeking to sweep the season series, having won the first three clashes between these two teams.
The two teams sat in second and third of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) at the beginning of this one. The Frost were in second with 42 points, and the Victoire right behind with 40 points.
The Victoire’s goals came from Catherine Dubois, Hayley Scamurra, and Lina Ljungblom. A combination of depth scoring and lights-out goaltending was more than enough to get the job done as Montreal moved into control of second in the league. They won by a score of 3-0.
Victoire Stepping up Without Poulin
This was the third game that captain Marie-Philip Poulin missed due to injury, and the team has seemed to fill her high-powered offensive role quite well. They got goals from forwards on three different lines and points from six different players. It’s a good sign for the team with Poulin likely out at least two more weeks.
Montreal put up three in this game, one in their recent loss, and four in a win before that. Adding their captain back to the mix for the playoffs will make them dangerous because it’s clear this team can still bring it without her.
Dubois Heating up on Top Line
The first goal of the game finally came with 41 seconds left in the second period, and it was Dubois who cashed it. Lee Stecklein sent a blind pass up the middle of the ice, and Dubois one-timed it into the back of the net. She has been elevated to Montreal’s top line amid Poulin’s absence and has really stepped up for the team.
Dubois now has two goals in her last three games. She is capable of scoring, with her career-high of six goals coming last season. With a noticeable uptick in ice time recently, she could get close to that total in the home stretch of this season.
Montreal Stays Out of Hit Column
Overall, it wasn’t an aggressive game, but it seemed the Victoire didn’t play the body at all. The Frost led in hits 9-3, with Montreal registering just one through two periods. Obviously, they were able to stymie Minnesota’s chances and wear them down; however, more aggressive play will be needed in playoff games when the action ramps up.
Montreal not only needs to play more physical going forward, but also cleaner when they do. Jade Downie-Landry had an awkward-looking hit on the Frost’s Natalie Buchbinder in the second period. While it wasn’t intentional, it’s something everyone on the team will need to be wary of in terms of playing a tight, clean game.
“From my perspective I was trying to make a hard hockey play. I obviously hope that she’s okay, it sucks to see anyone go down. Regardless of the team they play on, we want everyone to stay healthy,” Downie-Landry said to the media regarding the collision with Buchbinder.
Victoire Back on the Takeover Tour
After losing a close one in overtime to the Ottawa Charge this past Sunday (March 22) in Winnipeg, Montreal will get another chance in front of a neutral site crowd. Their next game is a Saturday matinee (March 28) at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan where they will face off against the New York Sirens. Puck drop is set for 11 a.m. MDT.
