The Montreal Victoire are heading to the Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs for the third time in as many seasons, after shutting out the Vancouver Goldeneyes 3-0 Wednesday at Place Bell.
Hayley Scamurra scored twice for the Victoire, who are second in the eight-team league, two points behind the Boston Fleet with six games remaining in the season. The top four teams make the playoffs, with the top team choosing its opponent for the semifinal from among the third- and fourth-place teams.
Goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens had 18 saves for her sixth shutout of the season. Emerance Maschmeyer was busier, stopping 25 for the Goldeneyes.
The game was scoreless until almost halfway through the third period, when Scamurra scored from the slot at 8:28. With Maschmeyer pulled for the extra attacker 10 minutes later, Scamurra scored again into an empty net at 18:23 for her fifth of the season. Both of Scamurra’s goals were assisted by linemates Laura Stacey and Skylar Irving.
Maggie Flaherty ended any hope of a comeback with another empty-net goal at 19:18.
“I thought Vancouver played a really tough game. They were very physical and played desperate hockey. I think it took us until the third period to kind of match that desperation,” Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie said after the game.
It was the Victoire’s fifth straight game without injured captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who is eligible to return as early as Tuesday. But the team has four wins and an overtime loss without her.
“She’s a huge loss and she is irreplaceable. That being said, I don’t think there is any more pressure,” said Stacey, Poulin’s wife. “It’s a team sport, and all of us want to stand up and make her proud, make each other proud.”
Defender Erin Ambrose returned to Montreal’s lineup after being out for eight games with an injury sustained at the Olympics. She played 14:29 and was +2. Forward Maya Labad was returned to the team’s reserve list to make room for Ambrose on the roster.
The Victoire next face Ottawa Friday at 7 p.m. (TSN2, RDS).
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