Marie-Philip Poulin has made a career out of delivering in the biggest moments, and she did it again Wednesday night in Minnesota. With 3:03 gone in overtime, Poulin pulled off a highlight-reel finish - a slick, behind-the-back release that beat Nicole Hensley and lifted Montreal to a dramatic 2-1 win over the two-time PWHL champion Frost.
It was a moment worthy of the spotlight, and it capped off a gritty, playoff-style battle between two teams with serious postseason aspirations.
Montreal got on the board first thanks to Maureen Murphy, who redirected a Nicole Gosling shot late in the second period for her first goal of the season. That tally held up deep into the third, until Minnesota’s Kelly Pannek found the equalizer with just 1:02 left on the clock - a clutch goal that sent the home crowd into a frenzy and forced overtime.
But in the extra frame, it was Poulin who silenced the building with a goal that only a handful of players in the world could pull off. It was pure instinct and elite touch from the captain, who continues to prove why she’s one of the most dangerous players in the game.
Ann-Renée Desbiens was a steady force in net for Montreal, turning aside 23 of 24 shots and making several key saves to keep her team in control. On the other end, Hensley was equally sharp, stopping 24 of 26 - but for the first time this season, the Frost were outshot on home ice, a telling stat that speaks to Montreal’s assertiveness throughout the night.
The win is a big one for Montreal, who now sit fourth in the PWHL standings - just a point behind Minnesota and two back of New York. In a league where the margins are razor-thin and every game feels like it could swing the standings, this was the kind of performance that can shift momentum in a hurry.
After the game, Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie praised her team’s execution against a Minnesota squad known for its offensive firepower.
“They have goal scorers - they’re leading the league in goals - so it was something important for us recognizing possession moments and where our defensive positioning was going to be when those moments happened,” Cheverie said. “And how we were going to put them on their heels as well. We had a game plan for that, and I thought that we made some adjustments throughout the game and the players responded really well.”
It was a complete effort from a Montreal team that’s starting to find its rhythm. Between Desbiens’ calm presence in net, a defensive unit that stayed disciplined against a high-octane attack, and Poulin’s signature clutch gene, this win didn’t just earn two points - it sent a message.
Montreal isn’t just chasing a playoff spot. They’re starting to look like a team no one will want to face when the stakes get even higher.