Poulin pots 2 goals, receives match penalty in Victoire win over Sirens
Marie-Philip Poulin showcased her dominance once again as she scored two goals to lead the Montreal Victoire to a 2-1 victory over the New York Sirens in the final PWHL game before the league’s break for international play. Ann-Renee Desbiens stood tall in net, making 23 saves on 24 shots to secure the win for Montreal.
The Victoire extended their winning streak to five games, with Poulin’s two goals bringing her season total to 10, the highest in the league. Desbiens continued her stellar performance between the pipes, earning her eighth win of the season and her fifth consecutive victory. Last season, she had seven wins in total.
Montreal currently sits atop the PWHL standings with a record of 8-3-1-2 and 31 points, holding a six-point lead over second-place Minnesota.
The game remained scoreless after the first period, but Poulin quickly changed that with a beautiful backhand goal just 34 seconds into the second period. She added her second goal four minutes later on a breakaway opportunity.
Despite Poulin’s offensive prowess, she found herself in the penalty box for a five-minute major penalty for charging after a hard hit on New York’s Jade Downie-Landry. The Sirens capitalized on the power play, with Allyson Simpson scoring their lone goal. However, they were unable to convert on a late power-play opportunity with the extra attacker.
The PWHL will take a break to accommodate various international competitions, including the “Rivalry Series” between Canada and the United States. League play will resume on February 11, with Minnesota set to face Toronto.
Overall, Montreal’s victory showcased their offensive firepower led by Poulin and solid goaltending from Desbiens, solidifying their position as the team to beat in the PWHL.
