Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. ET | Place Bell
WATCH LIVE: TSN 4, TSN.ca, TSN App, RDS 2, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
EN: Matt Cullen (Play-by-Play), Becky Kellar (Analyst), Julia Tocheri (Reporter);
FR: Claudine Douville (Play-by-Play), Isabelle Leclaire (Analyst), Catherine Savoie (Reporter), Andrée-Anne Barbeau (Studio Host), Karell Émard (Studio Analyst).
TORONTO SCEPTRES
4-0-3-6 | 15 PTS | 5TH PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: Renata Fast – 13 GP, 1-10-11 PTS
Last Game: 4-3 SOL at MIN on Jan. 28
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE
7-2-1-2 | 26 PTS | 1ST PLACE
Top Scorer: Marie-Philip Poulin – 12 GP, 8-2-10 PTS
Last Game: 4-1 W vs. OTT on Jan. 29
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: MONTRÉAL LEADS 5-1 IN POINTS (TORONTO WON 13-2 IN 2024)
Dec. 21 at TOR: 4-3 MTL (OT) | Jan. 8 at TOR (VANCOUVER): 4-2 MTL | Jan. 30 at MTL | Feb. 25 at MTL | Mar. 6 at TOR | Mar. 23 at MTL
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Montréal has won both games against Toronto this season (one in regulation, one in OT) after going winless in five games against the Sceptres last season. Toronto and Ottawa are the only teams yet to beat Montréal this season, with the Victoire collecting 16 out of 18 points against their Canadian rivals.
This will be Toronto’s first game at Place Bell after earning historic wins last season at Verdun Auditorium in the first-ever shootout (4-3), then in overtime at the Bell Centre with a record attendance (2-1). Montréal’s other home game in last season’s series was played in Pittsburgh, also won by Toronto (2-1).
Toronto lost on the road to Minnesota Tuesday, 4-3, in a shootout, with all three goals scored on the power play. The Sceptres have been on the losing end of all three of their games to go beyond regulation this season (two in overtime, one in a shootout). Toronto and Ottawa are the only two PWHL teams winless in OT/SO this season.
Renata Fast had a goal and two assists Tuesday in Minnesota. Her 11 points are the second most among PWHL defenders this season behind Minnesota’s Claire Thompson. Fast owns a three-game point streak against Montréal dating back to last season (after going pointless in her first four career games in the matchup).
Sarah Nurse and Jesse Compher also had multi-point performances against the Frost with one goal and one assist each. Nurse has now scored in two straight games and leads the league in power play goals (3), and Compher is riding a career-high three-game point streak (1G, 3A).
Montréal owns a 3-2-1-0 (.778) record in games decided by one goal or a shootout. That is the best points percentage in the PWHL in one-goal/shootout games and the five wins are tied for most (with Minnesota). Toronto has been on the losing end of all five of its one-goal/shootout games, the only PWHL team without a win in those games.
Marie-Philip Poulin scored two goals in Montreal’s last meeting with Toronto, her second career multi-goal game against the Sceptres (Jan. 20, 2024). Poulin has just two other career multi-goal games against all other teams, a hat trick at New York last season (Jan. 10) and a hat trick last night against Ottawa (Jan. 29).
Poulin became the second player in PWHL history to score in three different ways in a single game, netting an even-strength goal, a power play goal, and an empty-net goal last night. Toronto’s Daryl Watts had the same three-goal hat trick combination last season while playing for Ottawa (Mar. 23).
Six of the league’s nine all-time hat tricks have been scored by players between these two teams including Poulin (2), Watts, Nurse, Claire Dalton and Natalie Spooner.
Erin Ambrose is riding a three-game point streak, recording assists in the team's last three outings (3-2-1).
Montréal leads the PWHL with 19 second-period goals, which is more than half of their total goals scored this season (15 total: eight in the first, six in the third, one in OT). It is the most goals scored in any period by any PWHL team this season. Toronto leads the PWHL with 15 second-period goals allowed.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I expect the crowd to be buzzing and the game to be intense with a lot of speed and physical play. For us to be successful, we need to have a good start and build on our momentum for a full 60 minutes; we need to be detail orientated and play connected.” - Sceptres forward Kaitlin Willoughby.
“It's been a while since we've played two games in a row like this. It's going to be exciting and it's up to us to be ready. We need to get into the right frame of mind and prepare ourselves mentally and physically. There's nothing like playing at home, and I think we'll have the energy of the crowd with us.” - Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin.
THURSDAY’S GAME: The Victoire are playing back-to-back games for the first time in team history. Vikki Gilmore will sing the National Anthem, the Laurentide Mistral will be playing the Timbits mini-match during the first intermission, and DJ Nelles will be making sure that fans are loud and ready for what promises to be a party atmosphere at Place Bell. Montréal Community Cares founder Denburk Reid will see his numerous community efforts underlined during a break in the first period. PWHL partner Royale has brought The Inaugural Six – a striking work of art that was crafted with the very hockey sticks used in the PWHL’s first season – created by artist Briony Douglas to Place Bell. Fans can observe the larger-than-life sculpture shaped into a hockey helmet at the exit of sections 113-114.