Maddie Rooney earns shutout as Frost beat PWHL-leading Victoire

Maddie Rooney put on a stellar performance, making 21 saves for her first shutout of the season as she led the Minnesota Frost to a commanding 4-0 victory over the league-leading Montreal Victoire on Tuesday night in Laval, Quebec. Denisa Krizova was the standout player of the night, scoring two goals, including an empty-netter, while Liz Schepers and Kendall Coyne Schofield also found the back of the net for Minnesota.

This win was crucial for the Frost as they ended a three-game losing streak and put a halt to Montreal’s impressive six-game winning streak. Coyne Schofield’s goal also helped her tie with Toronto’s Hannah Miller as the league’s leading scorer with 18 points, consisting of eight goals and 10 assists.

The game marked Montreal’s first shutout of the season, with 6,696 fans in attendance at Place Bell witnessing the strong defensive performance by the Frost. Elaine Chuli, in her fifth start of the season, made 24 saves for the Victoire.

With this victory, the Minnesota Frost now hold sole possession of second place in the PWHL standings. They have 29 points, trailing Montreal by five points, but the Victoire have two games in hand.

One of the key takeaways from the game was the Frost’s ability to tighten up their defense after conceding 15 goals in their previous three games. The Victoire started the game strong but struggled to generate scoring opportunities once Rooney shut them down. They managed only three shots on goal in the second period after registering nine in the first.

A pivotal moment in the game came when the Frost successfully killed off the Victoire’s power play with just under 10 minutes remaining. Krizova capitalized on the momentum, scoring to make it 3-0 shortly after the penalty expired.

A noteworthy statistic from the game was the Frost completing their longest road trip in team history, travelling nearly 3,000 miles in 11 days from Minnesota to Toronto, Ottawa, Boston, and finally Montreal.

Looking ahead, the Frost will be hosting the Toronto Sceptres on Sunday, while the Victoire will be visiting the Ottawa Charge on Saturday. This win against the league leaders has surely boosted the Frost’s confidence as they continue their push for the top spot in the PWHL standings.