LAVAL, Que. - Claire Dalton had a goal and an assist as the Montreal Victoire defeated the Boston Fleet 3-1 on Monday night in the Professional Womensa国际传媒 Hockey League.
Anna Wilgren and Kristin O鈥橬eill also scored, while Ann-Ren茅e Desbiens stopped 18 shots for Montreal (3-2-0-1) before a sellout crowd of 10,172 at Place Bell.
The Victoire took over first place in the six-team PWHL standings with their fourth consecutive win. They have 13 points, one more than the Minnesota Frost.
Hilary Knight replied with her third of the season for Boston (2-0-0-4), which lost its second game in a row and sits last in the league.
Emma Soderberg made 28 saves in her first start this season.
The two teams met for the first time since Boston beat Montreal in the PWHL semifinal last season. Boston edged Montreal in three straight overtime games 鈥 including a triple OT marathon in Game 2 at Place Bell 鈥 to sweep the series.
TAKEAWAYS
Victoire: They killed off a five-minute penalty to start the third, allowing only one shot, after forward Catherine Dubois received a game misconduct for a hit to the head of Boston defender Megan Keller. Montreal also shut down Bostonsa国际传媒 power play 鈥 which entered 4 for 10 on the season 鈥 twice more in the period.
Fleet: Knight is halfway to matching last seasonsa国际传媒 total of six goals, an encouraging sign for Boston. The Fleet, however, have only 12 goals through six games to rank last in the league, continuing a trend from last season.
KEY MOMENT
O鈥橬eill put Montreal up 2-1 with a short-handed goal at 17:12 of the second period. The 26-year-old centre beat Soderberg five-hole on a breakaway, ending Bostonsa国际传媒 power play 30 seconds in thanks to the leaguesa国际传媒 鈥渏ailbreak鈥 rule. Wilgren then doubled the lead at 18:27.
KEY STAT
Montrealsa国际传媒 league-worst power play fell to 2 for 25 on the season. After scoring twice on the power play in their season-opener, the Victoire have failed to score in their last 18 attempts with the advantage.
UP NEXT
Victoire: Take on the Fleet in Seattle on Jan. 5 as part of three straight games on the PWHLsa国际传媒 Takeover Tour.
Fleet: Visit the Minnesota Frost on Thursday before meeting Montreal in Seattle.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2024.
