On Tuesday, April 7, the Montreal Victoire hosted the Seattle Torrent for their third matchup of the 2025-26 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) season. The Torrent won their first game in Seattle, while the Victoire won their first game in Montreal.
The Torrent were awarded a power play in the opening minutes of the first period, but the first 20 came to an end with no goals scored. The Victoire scored first in the first two minutes of the second period, and they increased their lead with a power-play goal just a minute later. The Torrent cut Montreal’s lead to one goal halfway into the period, but the Victoire scored again two minutes later. Both teams had a power-play chance in the third, but it wasn’t until the Victoire’s empty-net goal that Montreal sealed the game with a 4-1 win.
Stacey and Roque Reached Personal Milestones
The Victoire scored just two minutes into the second period, thanks to Natalie Mlynkova. Exactly a minute later, Anna Wilgren took a seat for tripping. Early into the power-play chance, Laura Stacey scored to give the Victoire a two-goal lead.
This goal marked Stacey’s seventh of the season and brings her point total up to 20. She is now the second player to score on her own bobblehead night, the first being Blayre Turnbull of the Toronto Sceptres. Even more important, she now joins the elite 60-point club. Only five other players have recorded this many points, including Montreal’s own Marie-Philip Poulin.
Stacey was not the only player to reach a point milestone in this game. With her assist on Shiann Darkangelo’s empty-net goal, Abby Roque now joins the 50-point club. She spent her first two seasons with New York before they traded her to Montreal during the 2025 PWHL Draft. In exchange, New York received forward Kristin O’Neill and the 28th overall pick. Roque had 30 points in 54 games with New York.
Roque has stepped into her own with Montreal. She now has 20 points for the season, which is a career high for her in the PWHL. Her offensive power has been heightened in Montreal, certainly to the Victoire’s delight. There are just four games left for the Victoire this season; let’s see if Roque can increase her point total a little more until the end of April.
Desbiens Excels in the Net
Aerin Frankel has been exceptional this season, but that is no reason to count out Ann-Renee Desbiens just yet. She only allowed one goal in this game, stopping 24 of 25 shots. She earned a save percentage (SV%) of .960, her second-highest for the season.
Related: 3 Takeaways From Torrent’s 2-1 Shootout Loss to Sirens at MSG
Desbiens has been excellent for the Victoire this season. She currently has her best SV% in a season with a .954. Desbiens has the best goals-against average (GAA) in the PWHL, just ahead of Frankel, with a 1.13. The two goaltenders are tied with 16 wins, and although Frankel has more shutout minutes, Desbiens is still just as good a goaltender. She is still in the running for Goaltender of the Year.
Victoire Made History
The Victoire made history with their win in this game. Montreal has become the first team to record 10 wins in the same arena in a single season. The PWHL is only in its third season, and the teams have often had to hop around to several arenas in the vicinity to make sure there is space to play. The Victoire have played in Place Bell the past two seasons, sharing the arena with the Laval Rocket, the Montreal Canadiens’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.
Regardless of whether they have a home base or not, the Victoire had an excellent performance and pulled out a historic win. They have been on a tear this season, and they will definitely be gunning for the Walter Cup this time around.
Victoire Back in Action on Saturday
The Victoire will head down to Massachusetts, where they will take on the Boston Fleet on Saturday, April 11, at TD Garden.
