In a marathon thriller that will be remembered for years, Marie-Philip Poulin etched her name into PWHL playoff lore, scoring at 4:02 of the third overtime to lift the Montreal Victoire to a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Frost in Game 2 of their semifinal series on Tuesday night.
The win was nothing short of heroic for Montreal, leveling the best-of-five showdown at 1-1 as the series now shifts to Minnesota for the next two games. After dropping Game 1 in a 5-4 overtime heartbreaker on Saturday, the Victoire showed incredible resilience, with goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens standing tall through 38 saves for the shutout.
The game-winner came on a beautiful sequence: Abby Roque carried the puck into the zone before sending a cross-ice pass to Poulin, who unleashed a blistering one-timer from the right circle that beat Maddie Rooney. It was Poulin's first career PWHL playoff goal—and what a moment for the captain.
Rooney was equally impressive in net for Minnesota, turning away 51 shots in a losing effort. The game marked just the third in league history to go without a regulation goal, underscoring the defensive battle that unfolded.
Montreal dominated the early overtime periods, outshooting the Frost 23-11 through the first two extra frames. They also had a power-play opportunity 7:35 into the first overtime but couldn't convert. Minnesota had their own chance with the man advantage in the third period, but the best scoring chance actually came shorthanded for Montreal, as Laura Stacey fired just wide on a breakaway.
The Frost's history with overtime continues to grow—this was their seventh straight playoff game requiring extra time, dating back to last season. Game 3 is set for Thursday at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minn., where both teams will look to seize control of the series.
For the Victoire, this win is more than just a tie; it's a statement of resilience. And for fans of women's hockey, it's another chapter in what's becoming a classic rivalry.
