Montréal Victoire posted a 3-0 shutout victory over Minnesota Frost at Grand Casino Arena on Tuesday, handing the Frost a rare home defeat. Ann-Renee Desbiens was the story, turning aside every shot she faced in a dominant road performance.
Desbiens has been outstanding all season. She carries a .932 save percentage and a 1.86 goals-against average across 21 starts with a 15-2 record. When she is on, the Victoire are nearly impossible to beat.
Montréal's offense gave her plenty of support. Marie-Philip Poulin leads the club with 26 points in 30 games, including 19 goals. Laura Stacey has 22 points in 27 appearances. Shiann Darkangelo and Abby Roque round out a deep forward group with 17 and 18 points respectively.
Minnesota could not solve Desbiens despite playing at home. Kendall Coyne Schofield leads the Frost with 24 points in 30 games. Kelly Pannek has 23 points, and Taylor Heise has contributed 23 points with a team-high 15 assists. The talent is there, but Desbiens was a wall.
The loss is a setback for Minnesota's bid to close the gap on Montréal for second place. The Frost sit third with 42 points, four behind the Victoire. Both teams have seven games remaining.
Maddie Rooney and Nicole Hensley have split the crease for Minnesota this season. Rooney holds a .924 save percentage in 13 starts, while Hensley has posted a .925 mark in 10 games.
Montréal looks like a serious contender for the Walter Cup. Minnesota will need to regroup before the final stretch of the regular season.
Minnesota stays home at Grand Casino Arena. Montréal heads back to Place Bell.