Montreal Victoire become first team to clinch spot in 2025 PWHL Playoffs

One of the best teams in the PWHL confirmed they will be played well into the spring.

With a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday night, the Montreal Victoire became the first team this season to clinch a spot in the 2025 PWHL Playoffs.

The Victoire was powered by a couple of impressive performances against the reigning Walter Cup Champions. Forward Laura Stacey led the attack with two goals and two assists, being credited with the game-winning goal early in the second period. She picked up assists on her partner Marie-Philip Poulin’s two goals, helping put an end to Montreal’s three-game losing skid.

Goaltender Elaine Chuli also had a standout effort in St. Paul. The Isobel Cup champion might’ve only been tasked with 19 saves, but the former Toronto Six backstop made several key stops, especially in the third period, to keep her team out in front.

It was Chuli’s first win since Jan. 30. The 30-year-old has been the No. 2 netminder in Montreal for the past two seasons but has been thrust into the starting job after Ann-Renée Desbiens went down with an injury that is expected to keep her out through the Women’s Worlds break.

This was the Victoire’s second chance at clinching a spot in the postseason. However, they fell to the rival Toronto Sceptres, 2-1, at home this past Sunday.

Montreal has been one of the best teams this season, which was expected thanks to the stacked roster general manager Danièle Sauvageau has put together heading to year two. Along with players like Poulin, Stacey and Erin Ambrose, rookie Jennifer Gardiner and forward Abby Boreen have been important players as this team has established themselves as championship contenders.

The team has been in first place for the last few months, and though it has had some bumps in the road, Montreal has managed to stay ahead of the pack with wins at the right time.

The Victoire (11-6-3-6) holds a three-point lead over the Toronto Sceptres, who briefly tied Montreal with a regulation win over the Boston Fleet on Wednesday. Each team has four games left in the regular season, none of which come against one another.

Last season, Montreal finished second in the league, but were swept by Boston in a wild three-game series where every game went to overtime.