Victoire head into Olympic break rolling with 3-0 win over reeling Sceptres

Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens makes a save against Toronto Sceptres' Maggie Connors (22) during second period PWHL hockey action in Laval, Que., Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

LAVAL — Ann-Renée Desbiens made 22 saves to earn her third shutout of the season as the Montreal Victoire defeated the Toronto Sceptres 3-0 on Wednesday night at Place Bell.

It was also the fourth career shutout for Desbiens, whose bobblehead was given out to the fans. The league’s top goaltender last season went all year without a blank sheet. She has only allowed four goals in four games against the Sceptres this season.

Natalie Mlynkova, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Shiann Darkangelo scored for Montreal (7-3-0-5), which won its third straight game and has won six of their last seven games. The Victoire are undefeated in six games at their primary home rink.

Raygan Kirk made 28 saves for Toronto (4-1-3-8), which is going in the opposite direction. The Sceptres lost their third straight game and have lost seven of their last eight.

Montreal opened the scoring with 3:27 remaining in the first period when a loose puck bounced to Mlynkova, who put a backhand behind Kirk from the slot.

Poulin doubled the lead, scoring a power-play goal on a rebound with 5:35 left in the second period. That was followed by another power-play goal less than four minutes later by Darkangelo, who had a rebound go right to her stick to put it into the empty side of the net.

Olympians on both teams were honoured after the game as they leave Thursday for Milan. All eight teams were in action across the PWHL on Wednesday, as the league heads into its Olympic break.

Takeaways

Victoire: Montreal’s power play scored two goals for the first time all season, converting on half their opportunities.

Sceptres: Toronto enters the Olympic break at a low point, losing seven of its last eight games and its last regulation win being on Dec. 27 against Montreal.

Key moment

Poulin and Darkangelo scored power-play goals 3:41 apart late in the second period to turn a 1-0 game to 3-0.

Key stat

The Sceptres were shut out for the second straight game and have now gone 131:50 without a goal, dating back to their 6-4 loss to Seattle on Jan. 20.

Up next

Victoire: Visit the New York Sirens on Feb. 26.

Sceptres: Visit the Seattle Torrent on Feb. 27.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2026.

Jared Book, The Canadian Press