Victoire edge Fleet 3–2 on Fan Appreciation Night, sealing top-two finish as rivalry streak hits five straight games decided past regulation.
The Boston Fleet will have to wait another day for a playoff spot, as the team lost 3-2 in overtime to the Montreal Victoire on the latter’s Fan Appreciation Night. Monday’s game marked five-straight games between the two teams wherein the game was decided in overtime or a shootout.
With the win, Montreal clinches a top-two seeded finish in the PWHL standings, ensuring a home ice advantage in the semi-final round.
“Home ice is huge. I think we’ve talked about it all year long,” said Laura Stacey. “We love playing in this building, in front of our fans. You see it tonight, the place was electric.”
Stacey also spoke on the playoff elimination against Boston last year, and the experience playing at home lends to her team.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted last year in the playoffs, but [the fans] stayed here till midnight, and I expect nothing less this year. Hopefully, we don’t go until midnight.”
Montreal’s goal scorers were Jennifer Gardiner, Catherine Dubois, and Stacey–who notched the overtime winner off of a feed from Marie-Philip Poulin. Dubois marks a goal in back-to-back games, and lends to the effort from depth that the Victoire will need in the playoffs.
“She’s a player I think everybody wishes they had on their team,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie, speaking on Dubois’ performance. “She’s not only a good teammate, but she’s willing to go through a wall for her teammates on the ice [...] Seeing her celebrate and get as excited as she does, I love that, I love that energy.”
Montreal held a 2-0 lead with 2:46 remaining in the third period. After a jailbreak goal by Hannah Brandt, Hannah Bilka wired home the equalizer with 2:07 left to play.
“We seem to never have an easy game here,” said Fleet head coach Courtney Kessel. “Another overtime. We found a way to come back. The game’s never over until the last buzzer goes.”
Cheverie spoke about her team's resilience, specifically down the stretch.
“We’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons the past two games,” Cheverie said. “The players who were on the ice for the two goals, they know, they feel it. They know we had a mission tonight.”
Montreal will end their season against the New York Sirens on Saturday, May 3 at the Prudential Center. Coach Cheverie stated that the game holds importance, even with a top-two finish wrapped up.
If the Toronto Sceptres lose to the Sirens in tommorrow’s matchup, Montreal clinches first place.
“If the game [against New York] means we’re still trying to fight for first [...] I think it’s still really important that we’re still trying to get the timing and the rhythm bak with all our players,” Cheverie said.
Saturday’s game will start at 2 p.m. EST, and will mark the last regular season game of the 2024-25 PWHL season.