Nicole Gosling scored in overtime Thursday to lift the Montréal Victoire to a 3-2 win over the Boston Fleet at Place Bell in Laval. The result clinches home-ice advantage for Round 1 of the playoffs and extends Montréal's lead atop the PWHL standings to two points with two games remaining in the regular season.
Gosling, a defenseman with 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in 28 games this season, delivered the decisive blow in what had been a tight contest between the top two teams in the league. The game marked the final regular-season meeting between the two clubs.
Boston came into the night one point behind Montréal, and the Fleet's overtime loss leaves the path to the top seed effectively closed. The Fleet sit at 20-5 for 58 points, and even with wins in their final two games, they cannot surpass Montréal's 60 points if the Victoire earn a single point from here. Montréal now controls its seeding entirely.
The win confirms Place Bell as the Victoire's home venue for the opening playoff round. Montréal has been the league's best team all season, with a 21-5 record anchored by Marie-Philip Poulin's 26 points. Laura Stacey (22 points) and Abby Roque (21 points) have provided steady production alongside Poulin to form one of the league's most reliable top lines.
Boston's postseason position remains secure in second. Jessie Eldridge leads the Fleet with 24 points on the season, while Alina Müller has contributed 21 and Megan Keller another 19 from the blue line.
Montréal visits the Vancouver Goldeneyes on April 21. Boston returns home April 22 to host the Ottawa Charge at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.