Sunday, February 2, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. ET | Prudential Center
WATCH LIVE: MSG/MSGHD, TSN 5, RDS, TSN.ca, TSN App, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
EN: Jamie Hersch (Play-by-Play), Dave Starman (Analyst), Julie Stewart-Binks (Reporter);
FR: Claudine Douville (Play-by-Play), Stéphanie Poirier (Analyst), Andrée-Anne Barbeau (Studio Host), Karell Émard (Studio Analyst).
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE
7-3-1-2 | 28 PTS | 1ST PLACE
Top Scorer: Marie-Philip Poulin – 13 GP, 8-2-10 PTS
Last Game: 4-3 SOW vs. TOR on Jan. 30
NEW YORK SIRENS
4-3-2-4 | 20 PTS | 3RD PLACE
Top Scorer: Sarah Fillier – 13 GP, 5-9-14 PTS
Last Game: 3-2 SOL at BOS on Jan. 31
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: NEW YORK LEADS 3-0 IN POINTS (MONTRÉAL WON 13-2 IN 2024)
Dec. 4 at MTL: 4-1 NY | Feb. 2 at NY | Feb. 15 at MTL | Mar. 12 at NY | Apr. 1 at MTL | May 2 at NY
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Sirens are the only team the Victoire have not defeated this season, with their only matchup being a 4-1 road win for New York on Dec. 4. In matchup history, there have been three regular-season games decided by three or more goals, tied for the most in any matchup in PWHL history.
Montréal has won four straight games (three regulation and one shootout), their second four-game win streak this season (Dec. 6-30), collecting 11 of a possible 12 points both times. The only other PWHL team to have multiple win streaks of at least four games is Toronto, who did so last season.
Against Toronto on Thursday, Laura Stacey became the fourth Montréal skater this season to have a three-point game (Erin Ambrose, Jennifer Gardiner, Marie-Philip Poulin). That is the most such players by any team in the league this season.
Ann-Renée Desbiens has backstopped Montréal to regulation wins in her last four starts. Among the eight PWHL goalies to play at least five games this season, Desbiens has the best GAA (1.86), most wins (seven) and is tied for the best save percentage (.933). She had seven wins in 16 games last year.
New Jersey connections for the Victoire include Dara Greig who hails from Camden, and Mariah Keopple who returns to the state to play for the first time since her collegiate career with the Princeton University Tigers, located an hour south of Newark. Maureen Murphy is a native of Buffalo, NY.
New York is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to Boston on Friday as the Sirens are tied with Montréal and Minnesota for most games ending in a shootout this season with three. Last season, New York had just two such games all season (Feb. 21 & 23, 2024).
On Friday, Ella Shelton became the first skater in New York’s team history to score twice in the third period of a game. Shelton is one of four PWHL players to do so this season, joining Boston’s Megan Keller & Susanna Tapani and Minnesota’s Michela Cava. The defender is currently riding a three-game point streak (3G, 1A) and will face the Victoire for the first time this season. She recorded six points (2G, 4A) in five matchups against them last season.
Sarah Fillier is riding a career-high five game point streak (1G, 4A) and is tied for the league-lead in scoring with 14 points (5G, 9A) in 13 games. She recorded a season-high three points (2G, 1A) in the first matchup between the teams.
Jessie Eldridge has 12 points (4G, 8A) in 13 games played, second most among Sirens forwards. One of her league-leading four multi-point games came against the Victoire on Dec. 4 where she recorded two assists.
Abby Roque enters the game with a career-high four game point streak (1G, 3A). Last season, she scored one goal and four assists in five games against Montréal.
Fifteen players from both teams have been named to rosters for the final two games of the Rivalry Series. Team USA features New York’s Alex Carpenter, Gabby Rosenthal and Allyson Simpson, and Montréal’s Cayla Barnes and Anna Wilgren. Team Canada includes New York’s Corinne Schroeder, Fillier, Shelton and Zandee-Hart, and Montréal’s Kristin O’Neill, Ambrose, Desbiens, Gardiner, Poulin and Stacey.
Six players from both teams will travel overseas during the International Break. New York’s Chloé Aurard will represent France in Olympic qualifying against China, Japan and Poland. Maja Nylén Persson will join Montréal’s Anna Kjellbin and Lina Ljungblom competing for Sweden in Olympic qualifying against Denmark, Netherlands and Norway. Victoire goaltender Sandra Abstreiter will represent Germany in Olympic qualifying against Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. Sirens forward Noora Tulus will also compete for Finland in the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour against Czechia and Switzerland.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We are finishing up a stretch of three games in five days and the team has been focused throughout this entire time. We need to put our best effort forward today and leave for the break on a high note.” - Victoire forward Clair DeGeorge.
“It’s so nice to be back home at Prudential after three games on the road. This game is a great test for us playing the number one team and I think we’re really looking forward to making a statement going into the break.” -Sirens captain Micah Zandee-Hart.
SUNDAY’S GAME: The Sirens celebrate Black History Month with a Unity Game today at Prudential Center. The game will feature activations designed to recognize the importance of Black history, while highlighting Black voices and organizations. The national anthem will be performed by actor Sholanty Taylor, recognized for her work on Broadway and television. Kim Davis, NHL Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs, will be honored during the ceremonial puck drop. Local Black owned businesses will be highlighted and on the concourse including NJBIA, Montclair Brewery, and The Weekend Spot. In the Prudential Lounge before the game, Kamal Carter and Kyle Williams of A Long Talk will lead a conversation that is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and tools to challenge systemic racism and foster ongoing action toward racial equity.