Victoire vs. Charge recap & highlights: Poulin’s hat trick leads Montreal back to top spot

Move over Michael Jordan. Make room for Marie-Philip Poulin.

Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin had a hat trick despite being audibly congested and admitting she was under the weather after the game. It brought back memories of Jordan’s “Flu Game” where he had 38 points and the game-winning shot in the 1997 NBA Finals. The stakes weren’t the same, but it showed her ability to step up even in adverse conditions. The Victoire beat the Ottawa Charge 4-1 on Wednesday night at Place Bell.

Rookie forward Jennifer Gardiner had a goal and two assists. The win moves Montreal to 7-2-1-2, and into first place in the PWHL. They are one point ahead of Minnesota, but still have three games in hand.

After 10 days off, the Montreal Victoire shook off some rust in the first period, but scored four unanswered goals.

Ottawa carried the play in the first period, as Montreal struggled to get back to game speed after a layoff since the two teams played in Quebec City on January 19. Each team is mandated to have a seven day break in the PWHL’s CBA and Montreal returned this week with two practices. Ottawa has played two games over that same span.

The Charge got the first-goal of the game when Jincy Roese’s point shot was tipped past Ann-Renée Desbiens by former Victoire forward Tereza Vanišová. It was Vanišová’s fourth goal of the season. Ottawa outshot Montreal 15-6 in the opening frame. They were helped by a late power play where they kept Montreal’s fourth line on the ice with only one defender for the entire two minutes. Despite their chances generated, they were unable to put a second puck past Desbiens.

Montreal fought back in the second period, led by their captain. Just 2:10 into the period, Montreal led a counter attack after Emily Clark had a chance at the other end. Jennifer Gardiner had a two-on-one with Poulin, and Poulin wired a shot past Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips to tie the game at 1-1.

The shot was perfectly placed, and the rookie netminder had nothing she could do.

POULIN !!!!

OTT 1, MTL 1

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— Victoire de Montréal (@victoire-lphf.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM

“I thought that that goal turned the tide of the entire game,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. “I am

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