Three-goal burst in second period spurs Victoire to 4-1 win over Torrent in PWHL

By Canadian Press on April 7, 2026.

LAVAL — Three second period goals spurred the Montreal Victoire to a 4-1 win over the Seattle Torrent in the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Tuesday.

Montreal moved closer to clinching home-ice advantage in the first round of playoffs. The Victoire ranked first in the eight-team league with four games remaining in the regular season.

For Seattle, the loss moved the Torrent closer to becoming the first PWHL team eliminated from post-season contention.

Natalie Mlynkova, Laura Stacey, Skylar Irving, and Shiann Darkangelo scored for the Victoire (15-4-2-5). Lina Ljungblom added two assists and Ann-Renee Desbiens made 24 saves in Montreal’s net at Place Bell.

The Victoire extended their own PWHL record for consecutive games with at least one point to 14 at 10-2-2-0.

Theresa Schafzahl scored and Hannah Murphy made 21 saves for the Torrent (6-1-3-15).

Seattle needs to win Wednesday in Ottawa to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Mlynkova opened the scoring at 2:28 of the second period when Alexandra Labelle kicked the puck towards her at the side of the net, and Mlynkova was able to put it past Murphy for her fifth of the season.

The Victoire doubled their lead 75 seconds later on the power play when Ljungblom fed Stacey on a two-on-one. Stacey tipped the puck past Murphy for her seventh goal of the season.

Seattle scored its lone goal at 9:53 of the second period. After Desbiens made the initial save on a Torrent two-on-one, Schafzahl tapped the loose puck in the crease by Desbiens for her fourth this season.

Montreal regained the two-goal advantage at 11:55 when Irving one-timed a backhand pass from Maggie Flaherty from behind the net for Irving’s third goal of the season.

Darkangelo added an empty-net goal.

TAKEAWAYS

Victoire: Won their 10th of 11 home games this season and became the first team in league history with double-digit wins in their home arena.

Torrent: Need to both win their last five games of the regular season, and need help from other teams to make the playoffs in their inaugural season.

KEY MOMENT

After Seattle halved the deficit to trail 2-1, Montreal scored just two minutes two seconds later to regain a two-goal lead.

KEY STAT

Seattle’s goal midway through the second period snapped Montreal’s shutout streak of 200 minutes 44 seconds spanning parts of four games. The Victoire have allowed two goals over that four-game span.

UP NEXT

Victoire: Visit the Boston Fleet on Saturday.

Torrent: Visit the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2026.

Jared Book, The Canadian Press