Desbiens Posts 33-Save Shutout as Montréal Victoire Blank New York Sirens 4-0 in Home Opener; Roque’s Three-Point Night Haunts Former Team

Poulin Becomes First Player in PWHL History to Reach 30 Career Goals and 50 Career Points; Mlýnková Scores First Career Goal; Roque Delivers Highlight-Reel Between-the-Legs Breakaway Goal

LAVAL, QC – Ann-Renée Desbiens turned aside all 33 shots she faced, and Abby Roque recorded a goal and two assists against her former team as the Montréal Victoire blanked the New York Sirens 4-0 in the team’s home opener on Tuesday night before a crowd of 8,392 at Place Bell.

The victory was defined by milestones and individual brilliance. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin became the first player in PWHL history to record 30 career goals and 50 career points, rookie Natálie Mlýnková scored her first career PWHL goal, and Desbiens recorded her first shutout of the season and second of her PWHL career.

After a scoreless first period, Montréal capitalized on the power play just 30 seconds into the middle frame when Mlýnková deflected an Erin Ambrose point shot past Kayle Osborne. Poulin made it 2-0 when she converted a two-on-one pass from Laura Stacey at 18:45 of the second period, a goal that proved to be the dagger with just 75 seconds remaining in the frame.

Stacey picked up her second assist of the game when she sent Roque alone on a breakaway for a highlight-reel between-the-legs goal at 13:26 of the third period. Maggie Flaherty iced the game with an empty-net goal at 19:50.

Osborne made 26 saves in defeat, with New York unable to find the scoresheet after opening the season with a 4-0 shutout win of their own against Ottawa on Saturday. Both teams are now 1-0-0-1 through their first two games of the season.

First Period: Defensive Battle, Scoreless Frame Despite Montréal’s Territorial Advantage

The opening period was a defensive chess match, with Montréal outshooting New York 15-6 but unable to solve Osborne. The Sirens’ goaltender, making her second consecutive start, was sharp early, turning aside quality chances from Poulin, Roque, and Laura Stacey.

New York struggled to establish offensive zone time in the first 10 minutes, as Montréal fed off the energy of the home crowd. The Victoire’s forecheck pressured the Sirens into turnovers and limited their ability to generate sustained pressure.

At 11:38 of the first period, Stacey appeared to score for Montréal, but the PWHL Central Situation Room reviewed the play and supported the original ‘no goal’ call made on the ice, determining that Stacey used a distinct kicking motion to propel the puck into the net.

New York’s best chance of the period came from Sarah Fillier, who led all players with seven shots on goal in the game. The reigning co-scoring leader tested Desbiens multiple times but was turned aside each time.

Kayla Vespa was called for holding at 3:08, giving Montréal the game’s first power play, but the Victoire were unable to convert. New York’s penalty kill held firm, limiting Montréal to perimeter shots and clearing rebounds effectively.

Hannah Scamurra was called for cross-checking at 12:40, giving New York its first power play opportunity, but the Sirens were unable to generate quality chances. Paetyn Levis was called for tripping at 18:56, giving Montréal a second power play opportunity that carried over into the second period.

Siren’s News:

• Girard’s Natural Hat Trick Powers Sirens to 4-0 Shutout Victory Over Charge
• New York Sirens Name Fillier and Bourbonnais as Alternate Captains for 2025-26 Season
• Minnesota Frost Dominate New York Sirens 5-2 in PWHL Preseason Training Camp Opener

Second Period: Mlýnková’s Deflection Opens Scoring, Poulin’s Late Goal Provides Breathing Room

Montréal wasted no time capitalizing on the carryover power play. Just 30 seconds into the second period, Mlýnková deflected an Erin Ambrose point shot past Osborne to give the Victoire a 1-0 lead.

The goal was Mlýnková’s first career PWHL goal and the Victoire’s first power play goal of the season on just their second opportunity with the player advantage. The second-round pick from the 2025 draft became the second player from the draft class to score her first career goal, with both counting as game-winners (Kiara Zanon, Toronto).

Head coach Kori Cheverie praised Mlýnková’s confidence and maturity in high-pressure situations.

“I’ve seen that now on the international level with Czechia and then in her NCAA club. And we just know the type of impact that she has with both of those levels. She’s hungry, relentless, and good around the net. She’s a student of the game. She’s a very mature young player. And that’s something that showed us right away that she could be a power play and a PK, and be put in important moments,” Cheverie said.

Roque added on the emotional experience of playing in front of the Montréal crowd for the first time.

“It was a really fun game. Even from the starting lineup, especially like our rookies were looking at me during everybody getting announced, and they were like, ‘This is crazy,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s pretty cool. ‘ So it’s really fun to be able to play in front of this market,” Roque said.

New York responded with sustained pressure, outshooting Montréal 10-9 in the second period. At 3:43 of the second period, Kayla Vespa appeared to score for New York, but the PWHL Central Situation Room reviewed the play and supported the original ‘no goal’ call made on the ice, determining that Vespa used a distinct kicking motion to propel the puck into the net.

Desbiens was tested repeatedly by Fillier, who continued to generate quality chances. The Victoire goaltender made several key saves, including a point-blank stop on a two-on-one rush that kept Montréal’s lead intact.

With 75 seconds remaining in the second period, Poulin extended Montréal’s lead to 2-0 when she converted a two-on-one pass from Stacey at 18:45. The goal was Poulin’s 30th career goal and 51st career point, making her the first player in PWHL history to reach both milestones.

Poulin now holds the league’s best all-time points-per-game average (0.96) in her 53rd career game. Her 30 career goals lead the next highest scorer by seven (Natalie Spooner, 23), and her 51 career points are also seven more than the next two players (Daryl Watts and Alex Carpenter, 44).

“That was super important. I think we talked after the second period. It was the five players who were involved. It was a beautiful play—Katie to Didge, who had made a nice pass to Abby, and Abby didn’t hesitate. She passed it to the middle for Laura. We had a 2-on-1, and it was a beautiful play. We’re capable of scoring, but I think it’s a very big goal for us to go into the third period with two goals,” Poulin said postgame.

The goal deflated the Sirens, who had been building momentum throughout the middle frame. Montréal took a 2-0 lead into the third period, outshooting New York 24-16 through 40 minutes.

Third Period: Roque’s Highlight-Reel Goal Seals Victory, Flaherty Adds Empty-Netter

New York came out with urgency in the third period, outshooting Montréal 17-6 in the final frame. The Sirens generated quality chances from Fillier, Alex Cherkowski, and Casey O’Brien, but Desbiens was unbeatable.

At 13:26 of the third period, Roque delivered the highlight of the night. Stacey sent Roque alone on a breakaway, and the Victoire forward deked Osborne with a between-the-legs move to extend Montréal’s lead to 3-0.

The goal was Roque’s first as a member of the Victoire and her second career three-point performance. Her first three-point effort also consisted of a goal and two assists with New York on Feb. 4, 2024. Acquired by the Victoire in a trade with the Sirens on draft day, Roque recorded five multi-point efforts in 54 career games with New York.

“No, I actually don’t think I’ve ever tried that in a game or practiced it, and I don’t know why I decided that was the moment. And honestly, I was doing it, and I was like, ‘This is stupid.’ So I got lucky,” Roque said with a laugh about her between-the-legs deke.

Montréal head coach Kori Cheverie praised Roque’s versatility and hockey IQ.

“We’re able to use Abby in a lot of different situations. And the fact that her and Pou kind of switch off at the center position, depending on who’s winning against certain centers, is really helpful too. Her goal was outstanding, just to create something with the limited space that she had, but that’s the type of player that she is. She’s very cerebral. She’s got a very high IQ, and she’s constantly thinking about the game and strategizing, and she’s the one pulling people in to talk about different ways to handle certain situations. And I thought she did really well on the kill as well. For us to keep adding power play players, but also killers, is really helpful for our overall game,” Cheverie said.

Maggie Flaherty added an empty-net goal at 19:50 to seal the 4-0 victory. The goal was Flaherty’s first of the season and made her the first Victoire defender to score this season. She signed with Montréal in the offseason after spending two years with Minnesota, where she recorded one goal in each of her first two seasons.

Desbiens finished with 33 saves for her first shutout since the inaugural season when she made 31 saves in a 2-0 victory over Ottawa on April 27, 2024. Only one of her league-leading 15 wins during the 2024-25 season required more than tonight’s 33 saves, stopping 40 in a 2-1 shootout victory over Minnesota on Mar. 4, 2025.

Emotional Return: O’Neill and Fecteau Face Former Team

The game was an emotional homecoming for Sirens forward Kristin O’Neill, who returned to Montréal for her first game as a member of New York.

“My welcome was great. I think playing in Montréal is always very exciting, especially with the fans, whether you’re the home team or the away team. Every athlete feels the energy that the fans and the crowd bring,” O’Neill said. “It was definitely weird being on the other side, but I’m happy to be with the teal and orange, and I’m really excited to see what this group has next in store.”

O’Neill recorded two shots on goal and went 10-for-20 at the faceoff dot in her return to Place Bell. She received a warm ovation from the crowd during player introductions, a moment she described as “super emotional, no matter what side you are.”

“I love playing here in Montreal. I think it’s definitely a challenge moving teams. I felt really connected to the city and the fans. Like I said, I’m really happy with where I’m at. I think this group is very supportive of my transition so far,” O’Neill said. “Those big moments where people are cheering for you are super emotional, no matter what side you are.”

Siren forward Emmy Fecteau also returned to her home province of Quebec, playing in front of family and friends at Place Bell. Fecteau recorded two shots on goal and was even in plus-minus in 12 minutes of ice time.

Desbiens’ Dominance, Cheverie’s Praise

Montréal head coach Kori Cheverie was effusive in his praise for Desbiens’ exceptional performance, particularly during a five-on-six situation.

“When you look at the game, it’s outstanding. Just calmness in the crease. When we were playing 5v6 for five and a half minutes—or it felt like an entire 20 minutes—she calmed things down. Our D helped her by lifting sticks in the blue paint, too. It just felt like she kind of saw everything. She’s put together performances in the past where she probably deserved the zero on her end, and I’m glad that she got it tonight,” Cheverie said.

Roque echoed the sentiment about Desbiens’ exceptional play.

“No, there’s no surprise there. We know Anne. She’s a brick wall. She’s our keeper there, and she’s done it in Boston. She’s done it here two games in a row. Honestly, she’s put the work in, and there’s no surprise there. But there’s some moments we put ourselves in trouble, big troubles, but she’s always there to save our backs, and that’s something we’re super thankful for. It’s pretty awesome to see her come out so hard last game, this game. It’s no surprise Anne is something, and she’s someone special to have on our team,” Roque said.

Mlýnková’s Breakthrough and Poulin’s Historic Achievement

Mlýnková was thrilled about her first career PWHL goal, though she admitted she didn’t immediately realize she had scored.

“No, no. I didn’t know. I actually didn’t even know they announced it later on until people started telling me. I had no idea. I think sometimes those things happen too fast. I honestly didn’t feel it, or maybe I just blacked out in the moment. But I was just super happy it went in,” Mlýnková said.

When asked what it meant to be put in such an important position on the first power play with elite players so early in her PWHL career, Mlýnková reflected on the privilege.

“Yeah, I mean, at first you just kind of don’t believe it, but then you’re like, ‘Okay, whatever they tell me to do, I’m just going to do it.’ You know, it’s… I just have a certain job to do there, and it gets tough sometimes in front of the net, but you can block a few shots here and there, and when these players are shooting, you know it gets tough, and you obviously don’t want to get hit, but you know what—a privilege to just to just be able to even stand there and try to help out in a way I can. But obviously, learning as much as I can, and yeah, it’s just such a huge privilege for me,” she said.

Poulin praised Mlýnková’s rapid adaptation to the professional game.

“She adapts so quickly to the league. Two games is a short sample, but still, it’s going very well for her. She sees the game super well, and she works hard. For us, we’re super happy to have her here in Montréal. She wants to be here for the right reasons. She wants to learn. She wants to make sacrifices in front of the net. She wants to pick up the puck for us. And that’s something that’s super important. And you see it. She’s here to win. She’s here. She wants to improve. And I think she’s already showing that in game one, game two in a row,” Poulin said.

Roque’s Integration and Chemistry with Poulin and Stacey

Poulin was asked about the chemistry between herself, Roque, and Stacey, and whether she expected the line to gel so quickly.

“You can hope, you know, when you do get traded. But, I mean, yeah, just, I mean, especially, like, playing with both of them, like, you can tell, like, Stacey’s speed is something that, like, it’s so nice to play with somebody who can move like that, and I think Pou’s brains, like, it’s nice when you know this pass is going to get there no matter what. It’s pretty easy to play with those two people. I think the first game we were just trying to get it together a little bit and figure it out, but I did think it was going to mesh pretty well, and I think today it did,” Roque said.

Poulin added her perspective on why Roque is such a strong fit on the line.

“I mean, she has fire, and I love that. And honestly, the way she sees the game, there’s not many players that see the game the way she does. She wants to make a difference. She’s physical. She’s hard to play against, and that’s something that we want in Montreal. And we’re truly lucky to have her in Montreal. What she brings, how she sees the game, and honestly, we’re truly thankful that she picked Montreal, we picked her, and obviously it’s two games, but I’m really looking forward to how much we can match even more and make a bigger impact,” Poulin said.

Responding After Boston, Strong Start Against New York

Cheverie was asked if the team’s strategy was to start strong after the disappointing loss to Boston.

“Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, the team wanted to have a better start than what we had in Boston. And I think they just wanted a better product. Being put on the ice, and they knew that Boston wasn’t the product that we’re all about. And so we were very happy with the start. There were some lulls through the game. A little bit, but I was really happy with the way we finished too. But kudos to them, because you know, our game plan didn’t change all that much. We needed a couple of adjustments—or even not even adjustments, more like hyper-awareness in certain areas. And they were the ones that did it,” Cheverie said.

Poulin reflected on the team’s character and resilience after the Boston game.

“I think it’s just so much character we have in that room. I think we were all happy with that game. We knew what we needed to do, and honestly, we all came out as individuals, as a group, and we showed up, and honestly, playing in front of your fans puts a lot of energy behind us and gets us fired up. But I think it was beyond that. I think, for us sitting in that dressing room, coming out hard, playing our game, playing the Victoria way, was something that we wanted to do, and we did. It’s two games in, and we’ve got to keep moving,” Poulin said.

Poulin was also asked about the team’s discipline, particularly after taking unnecessary penalties in Boston.

“I think it’s something that’s super important. The discipline, I think that’s still something we’re trying to find a little bit. It’s where the line is physical, how we can hit, and all. I think the last game, I’m not super proud of myself. It’s something that was undisciplined on my part. But I think at the end of the day, it’s in the past. Today, we wanted to start strong. We wanted to put a lot of pressure on them. That’s what we did. I think going forward, but still, I think we won’t change our game. Just have a little bit more sticks on the ground. Play the puck, play physical, and play our game,” Poulin said.

Team Chemistry and Integration of New Players

Cheverie was asked about the team’s chemistry and whether there’s something special developing with the group.

“I mean, Maggie Flaherty’s celebration probably said it best with the two arms in the air and just, you know, a player who came in who’s able to have an impact with us right away, who maybe played some different minutes with us than maybe her former team. And then everybody on the bench being just as happy as Maggie was when she put that in. I think this is a team that is really cheering for each other, really supporting each other. It’s definitely early, but there’s something special with the group. And they’re all people who want to play hockey. They want to be hockey players. They want to be pros. And they’re working hard at it every single day to be a pro. And that’s, you know, something that you want in your locker room,” Cheverie said.

Poulin explained the rapid integration of new players.

“I think it’s not a surprise. I think the players who arrived are talented, they have experience, and they want to learn. I think this group, it’s… there’s not someone who is bigger than someone, or that it’s been three years that you’ve played in the league. Each person has a voice, an important role on this team. I think you see from the beginning of camp, the girls arrive and make themselves feel at home. We want them to put on this jersey, to be themselves, and to play the best hockey they can. I think we’ve already seen in two games, the girls adapt super fast, and it’s something that’s very cool to see,” Poulin said.

Emotional Moment for Kristin O’Neill

Cheverie was asked about the emotional moment when O’Neill received an ovation from the Montréal crowd during player introductions.

“Yeah, I mean, that’s super emotional, even for us as a staff. Like, KO, there’s no better teammate. There’s, you know, no harder worker. That’s always a tough one when players leave. And, you know, the player coming in aside, it’s sad to see players go and KO with all the history that I have with her. Yeah, that was a hard one. And I think having that ovation, like she deserved it. And she’s put in so much time and effort with this program. So I was really happy to see that. And I hope that she feels how much Montreal loves her,” Cheverie said.

Statistical Breakdown and Key Performances

Goaltending:

• Ann-Renée Desbiens: 33 saves on 33 shots (1.000 save percentage), first shutout of the season
• Kayle Osborne: 26 saves on 29 shots (.897 save percentage), 3 goals allowed in 55:46 of ice time

Shots on Goal:

• New York outshot Montréal 33-30 overall
• New York led in shots in all three periods except the first (15-6 Montréal)
• Sarah Fillier led all players with 7 shots on goal (career-high)

Special Teams:

• Montréal: 1-for-3 on the power play (33.3%)
• New York: 0-for-4 on the power play (0.0%)

Faceoffs:

• Casey O’Brien led all players with 17 faceoff wins on 24 attempts (70.8%)
• Kristin O’Neill went 10-for-20 at the faceoff dot (50.0%)

Plus-Minus Leaders:

• Montréal: Abby Roque, Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, Kati Tabin (+3 each)
• New York: Alex Cherkowski, Casey O’Brien (-3 each)

Penalties:

• New York: 8 minutes on 4 infractions
• Montréal: 6 minutes on 3 infractions

Top Performers:

• Abby Roque (MTL): 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, 2 shots, +3
• Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL): 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, 6 shots, +3
• Laura Stacey (MTL): 2 assists, 2 points, 2 shots, +3
• Ann-Renée Desbiens (MTL): 33 saves, 1.000 save percentage, shutout
• Sarah Fillier (NY): 7 shots (career-high), -2

Key Takeaways

1. Desbiens’ Dominance: Ann-Renée Desbiens was unbeatable, turning aside all 33 shots she faced to record her second career PWHL shutout. Her positioning and rebound control were exceptional, limiting New York to perimeter shots and clearing loose pucks effectively.

2. Roque’s Impact: Abby Roque’s three-point performance against her former team showcased her offensive versatility and hockey IQ. Her between-the-legs breakaway goal was the highlight of the night and demonstrated her ability to create offense in tight spaces.

3. Poulin’s Historic Milestone: Marie-Philip Poulin became the first player in PWHL history to reach 30 career goals and 50 career points, cementing her status as the league’s most prolific scorer. Her two-on-one goal in the second period provided crucial breathing room for Montréal.

4. Mlýnková’s Breakthrough: Natálie Mlýnková’s first career PWHL goal was a game-winner and came on the power play, showcasing her ability to contribute in key situations. The second-round pick has made an immediate impact for the Victoire.

5. New York’s Offensive Struggles: The Sirens were shut out for the first time this season after blanking Ottawa 4-0 in their opener. New York generated 33 shots but struggled to create quality chances against Desbiens and Montréal’s defensive structure.

6. Montréal’s Home Dominance: The Victoire have now won two straight home openers at Place Bell, following a 4-3 shootout win over Ottawa last season on Nov. 30, 2024. The crowd of 8,392 provided a significant home-ice advantage.

7. Fillier’s Persistence: Sarah Fillier led all players with seven shots on goal, a career-high for the reigning co-scoring leader. Despite being held off the scoresheet, Fillier’s relentless offensive pressure created opportunities for her teammates.

Coaching Perspectives

Montréal head coach Kori Cheverie praised Roque’s versatility and hockey IQ.

“We’re able to use Abby in a lot of different situations. And the fact that her and Pou kind of switch off at the center position, depending on who’s winning against certain centers, is really helpful too. Her goal was outstanding, just to create something with the limited space that she had, but that’s the type of player that she is. She’s very cerebral. She’s got a very high IQ, and she’s constantly thinking about the game and strategizing, and she’s the one pulling people in to talk about different ways to handle certain situations. And I thought she did really well on the kill as well. For us to keep adding power play players, but also killers, is really helpful for our overall game.”

New York head coach Greg Fargo acknowledged Desbiens’ exceptional performance and his team’s slow start.

“I think it was a hot goalie for sure. Ann-Renée played an exceptional game; it made it really tough for us to even get some rebounds. We thought some chances could have been there for us, but overall, there were a lot of good parts of our game. I thought we got better as it went on – but the start wasn’t what we wanted. I think Montréal did a nice job to feed off the energy of the crowd early on, and we were on our heels for the first 10 minutes of the game, and that made it tough to get our game established tonight.”

Notable Milestones and Streaks

• Marie-Philip Poulin became the first player in PWHL history to reach 30 career goals and 50 career points
• Ann-Renée Desbiens recorded her second career PWHL shutout (first since Apr. 27, 2024)
• Natálie Mlýnková scored her first career PWHL goal (game-winner)
• Abby Roque recorded her second career three-point performance
• Laura Stacey recorded two assists in a game for the sixth time in her career
• Erin Ambrose recorded a point in all three of Montréal’s home openers (28 career assists leads all PWHL skaters)
• Maggie Flaherty became the first Victoire defender to score a goal this season
• Sarah Fillier recorded a career-high 7 shots on goal
• Casey O’Brien led all players with 17 faceoff wins
• Kayle Osborne made consecutive starts for the first time in her PWHL career

Looking Ahead

New York Sirens: Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Vancouver at 12 p.m. ET

Montréal Victoire: Sunday, Dec. 7 vs. Toronto at 12 p.m. ET

The Sirens will look to rebound at home against Vancouver, while the Victoire will enjoy a week off before hosting Toronto in their next home game. Cheverie indicated the team will use the break productively.

“I promised the girls we’d play some small area games, so they’re really happy over this break. I call it a break, but yeah, I mean, you want to take that momentum into kind of that next game, but we still feel like, as a coaching staff and as a team, there’s a good little runway here where we can put a dent into some of our concepts that we want to continue to hone in on and hopefully have a little bit of fun and do some team building as well, since we have a week and a half here to do that,” Cheverie said.

Facebook: “Ann-Renée Desbiens turned aside all 33 shots, and Abby Roque recorded a goal and two assists against her former team as the Montréal Victoire blanked the New York Sirens 4-0 in their home opener. Marie-Philip Poulin became the first player in PWHL history to reach 30 career goals and 50 career points! #PWHL #GoVictoire”

LinkedIn: “The Montréal Victoire defeated the New York Sirens 4-0 in their home opener before 8,392 fans at Place Bell. Ann-Renée Desbiens recorded a 33-save shutout, while Marie-Philip Poulin became the first player in PWHL history to reach 30 career goals and 50 career points. #PWHL #WomensHockey #GoVictoire”