Poulin scores a pair, Victoire claim PWHL’s top seed with 3-2 win over Sirens

Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates her third goal with teammates during third period PWHL hockey action against the Ottawa Charge in Laval, Que., Wednesday, January 29, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

League-leading goal scorer Marie-Philip Poulin recorded two goals — the first 11 seconds in — and the Montreal Victoire clinched the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s top playoff seed by holding off the New York Sirens 3-2 on Saturday.

The Victoire (11-8-7-3) received help in gaining the top seed when Ottawa beat Toronto 2-1 in overtime earlier in the day. Toronto needed to beat Ottawa and have New York win for the Sceptres to secure the top seed.

On Sunday, Montreal will choose its opening-round playoff opponent — either third-seeded Ottawa or No. 4-seed and defending champion Minnesota. Toronto, the second seed, will play the other team.

Following Poulin’s immediate goal, Montreal’s Catherine Dubois scored at 4:04 in the first period for a two-goal advantage. Poulin closed the scoring for the Victoire at 11:21 in the second period. She finished with 19 goals this season.

New York’s Sarah Fillier scored at 2:39 in the third, and Alex Carpenter scored with 17 seconds left to get the Sirens within a goal.

After pulling its goalie, New York kept the pressure on with a player advantage and Montreal never managed to clear the puck. The game ended with the puck trapped in a scrum of players behind the Montreal net.

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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

The Associated Press