triple overtime – Marie-Philip Poulin scored in the third OT as Montreal beat Minnesota 1-0 in Game 2, evening the semifinal series 1-1.
A triple-overtime classic ended the way Montreal likes it: with Marie-Philip Poulin finishing the job to lift Victoire to a 1-0 win over Minnesota Frost in Game 2 of the PWHL semifinal.
Poulin found the back of the net at 4:02 of the third overtime period. and Ann-Renée Desbiens delivered the answers at the other end with 38 saves to keep the game scoreless before the decisive moment.. The result leveled the best-of-five series at 1-1. setting up Games 3 and 4 in Minnesota after the Frost secured a 5-4 overtime victory in Game 1.
It was a playoff grind for Minnesota as the game stretched the streak of extra-time matches to seven straight. underlining how tightly matched these teams have been.. The fact that this one ended without a regulation goal also speaks to how much respect both sides showed for each other’s defensive structure.
From the start, the tone was set for a high-stakes, low-margin battle.. Montreal created momentum through overtime after a strong opening, outshooting Minnesota 23-11 across the extra periods.. The Victoire also generated power-play opportunities early in overtime. but they couldn’t convert. and the game remained locked as both goalies continued to erase scoring chances.
Rooney and Desbiens each had to be at their best, and they proved it.. Maddie Rooney stopped 51 shots in the loss. while Desbiens kept answering everything Minnesota threw at her. including key work in the middle period.. When the Frost finally had a power-play chance late. it didn’t turn into the breakthrough. leaving Montreal to lean on its momentum until Poulin’s moment arrived.
For Poulin, it wasn’t just a winner, it was a landmark.. Her strike came off an entering play that featured Abby Roque’s cross-ice pass. leading to a one-timer from the right circle that beat Rooney.. With that goal being her first career PWHL playoff tally. it became the perfect final piece in a game defined by endurance.
Meanwhile. Montreal will head to the next chapter of the series with confidence after pushing Game 2 beyond the third overtime and still coming out on top.. Minnesota. for its part. now faces the immediate challenge of responding quickly. because the longer these games run. the more they can turn on single swings and razor-thin finishing.
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the semifinal will continue with the series perfectly balanced.