Marie-Philip Poulin’s dedication to perfecting her one-timers paid off in a big way on Wednesday night. The Montreal Victoire captain put on a dazzling display, netting a hat trick to lead her team to a commanding 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
Montreal stumbled out of the gate with a sluggish first period, trailing 1-0. Ottawa nearly extended their lead when Emily Clark had a golden opportunity on a breakaway—but the hockey gods had other plans. Clark’s shot rang off the post, and moments later, the momentum shifted.
Enter Poulin. Given a perfect feed on a 2-on-1 rush, she absolutely blasted a one-timer past the Ottawa goalie, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The sound of the puck clanking off the crossbar and in was all the confirmation Montreal needed—this game was about to change.
“That goal turned the tides of the entire game,” head coach Kori Cheverie said. “Pou has the ability to do that, and I’m glad she shot that puck that hard.”
The Poulin Effect
Once Poulin got rolling, there was no stopping her. She struck twice more, completing the hat trick and sending Montreal (7-2-1-2) soaring to the top of the PWHL standings.
Her teammate Jennifer Gardiner, who racked up a goal and two assists of her own, summed it up perfectly:
“When she’s teed up, it’s probably going in.”
👑 https://t.co/uG0Ff6xkNu pic.twitter.com/C6esYaVw0o
— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 30, 2025
Poulin now leads the league with eight goals, proving once again why she’s one of the most electrifying players in the game.
While Poulin stole the show, Montreal’s goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens played a starring role of her own. Facing a barrage of Ottawa shots—31 in total—she stood on her head, especially during a first period in which Montreal could have easily fallen into a deeper hole.
“If it wasn’t for Deb in the first period, we probably could have been down two or three,” Cheverie admitted.
With a .933 save percentage and a 1.86 goals-against average this season, Desbiens is proving to be an impenetrable force between the pipes.
Ottawa’s offensive woes continue
For the Charge, frustration continues to mount. Despite a strong start, their inability to finish cost them again. They remain the lowest-scoring team in the league, averaging just 1.78 goals per game.
Clark’s missed breakaway and a failed power-play opportunity summed up their night—chances were there, but execution was lacking.
“Our first period was maybe one of our best periods, if not the best period of our season so far,” said Ottawa’s head coach Carla MacLeod. “But missed opportunities certainly hurt us.”
With Montreal sitting atop the PWHL standings, they’ll look to keep their momentum rolling, especially with Poulin heating up at the perfect time. As for Ottawa, they’ll need to find some offensive firepower—fast.
But one thing is clear: when Marie-Philip Poulin gets a clean look at the net, you’d better brace yourself—because that puck is probably going in.
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