Poulin, Roque and Desbiens lead Victoire to 4-0 win over Sirens in home opener

By Canadian Press on November 25, 2025.

LAVAL — Marie-Philip Poulin had a goal and an assist to become the first PWHL player to reach 50 career points, Abby Roque produced one highlight-reel goal and two assists against her former team, and the Montreal Victoire shut out the New York Sirens 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 33 shots and Natalie Mlynkova also scored for Montreal (1-0-0-1) before 8,391 at Place Bell. Laura Stacey had two assists and Maggie Flaherty added an empty-net goal.

The Victoire, which topped the league standings last season but fell in the first round of the playoffs, lost 2-0 to the Boston Fleet in their season opener Sunday.

Kayle Osborne made 26 saves for New York (1-0-0-1). The Sirens began their season with a 4-0 win over the Ottawa Charge after finishing last in each of the PWHL’s first two seasons.

Mlynkova, with her first PWHL goal, deflected a point shot from Erin Ambrose on the power play 30 seconds into the second period for Montreal’s first goal of the season.

Poulin doubled the lead with 1:15 remaining in the middle frame, finishing off a backhand feed from Stacey after Roque’s heads-up pass sent them on a 2-on-1.

Roque, who played her first two seasons with the Sirens, then converted a between-the-legs breakaway goal at 13:26 in the third for her first with the Victoire.

Takeaways

Victoire: The 34-year-old Poulin, last season’s PWHL MVP, has 30 goals and 21 assists in 53 regular-season games. Montreal’s captain is also the first player to reach the 30-goal mark.

Sirens: A warm welcome for Kristin O’Neill in her return to Montreal. The former Victoire centre was traded to New York in a swap for Roque over the off-season and received a loud ovation during a first-period video tribute.

Key moment

Desbiens made the save of the night, sliding across her crease to deny Sirens forward Paetyn Levis, who pounced on a loose puck sitting before a wide-open net in the blue paint.

Key stat

Desbiens recorded her second PWHL shutout and first since the league’s inaugural season. She won goaltender of the year last season without posting a shutout.

Up next

Victoire: Host the Toronto Sceptres on Dec. 7.

Sirens: Host the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2025.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press