Victoire shootout – Lina Ljungblom’s shootout winner lifted Montreal past Seattle 2-1 to secure the No. 1 seed in the Walter Cup playoffs for the second straight season.
Montreal finished the regular season exactly where it wanted to be—first in the standings after a tense 2-1 win over the Seattle Torrent, sealed by a shootout goal from Lina Ljungblom.
The headline for the night was the No.. 1 seed, but the deeper story is how the Victoire managed to protect it.. They entered the final game with a points tie at the top of the PWHL table. level with Boston. yet still held the tiebreaker edge over the Fleet.. That meant every shift mattered. and Montreal treated the final as both a validation of its season and a statement about how it plans to play once the playoffs begin.
Momentum started with discipline.. Abby Roque broke the deadlock at 7:25 of the second period on the power play. converting during a 5-on-3 advantage to make it 1-0.. For a team already built on structured offense. that goal did more than grab the lead—it forced Seattle to chase the game more often than it likely wanted. especially against a side with the confidence to control territory and tempo.
Seattle’s reply came in the third period when Alex Carpenter scored at 9:49. knotting the game at 1-1 and turning the final minutes into a test of composure.. With the matchup all square and the postseason stakes elevated. the goaltending and decision-making on both ends became the deciding factors.. Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens finished with 23 saves. a performance that kept the Victoire within reach of a late win even as the Torrent pushed for a signature upset.
Beyond the final score, the Victoire’s roster news mattered.. Marie-Philip Poulin and Maureen Murphy returned from injuries that had sidelined them since mid-March.. Getting two key players back late in the season changes playoff readiness in a very practical way: it tightens options for matchups. restores depth in high-pressure minutes. and reduces the burden on the remaining top contributors.. Montreal didn’t just win its last regular-season game—it restored pieces of its playoff lineup.
The shootout finish was the final reminder that Montreal’s season wasn’t only about accumulating points; it was about finding ways to finish when the game stops giving easy answers.. Ljungblom’s shootout goal secured the 2-1 result and confirmed that the Victoire will open the Walter Cup playoffs at the top. carrying the confidence that comes with being the team other contenders must chase.
For the Torrent, the night carried both ambition and heartbreak.. Seattle could have locked down the No.. 1 overall selection in the 2026 PWHL entry draft with a win, but the loss keeps the first pick with Vancouver.. The contrast is striking: Montreal earned its reward through execution. while Seattle saw its draft position hinge on a single night that didn’t go its way.
It also wasn’t a quiet season in Seattle’s building—attendance reached a season high of 17. 151. underscoring that growth and momentum off the ice can arrive alongside tough results.. Even with the Torrent ending the regular season with the fewest PWHL points among teams and a 30-point total. the crowd energy suggests a franchise ready to build toward brighter chapters.
What comes next is straightforward but significant.. Montreal will pick its first-round opponent between third-seeded Minnesota and fourth-seeded Ottawa. and that choice can shape the rhythm of the playoffs.. The Victoire’s top-seed status offers flexibility, yet it also raises expectations: the same team that finished No.. 1 with a tiebreaker must now prove it can convert regular-season control into playoff consistency—especially with reinforcements like Poulin and Murphy back in the mix.