Sunday, November 23, 2025 | 1 p.m. ET | The Tsongas Center
WATCH LIVE: NESN, Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, RDS, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International), More.
EN: Eric Gallanty (Play-by-Play), Gigi Marvin (Analyst), Natalie Noury (Reporter),
FR: Claudine Douville (Play-by-Play), Stephanie Poirier (Analyst), André-Anne Barbeau (Studio Host), Karell Emard (Studio Analyst)
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE
2024-25: 12-7-3-8 | 53 PTS | 1ST PLACE
Top Scorer: Marie-Philip Poulin – 30 GP, 19-7-26 PTS
Preseason Scrimmages: 3-2 OTW vs BOS | 3-2 W vs BOS
BOSTON FLEET
2024-25: 9-6-5-10 | 44 PTS | 5TH PLACE
Top Scorer (Returning): Alina Müller – 26 GP, 7-12-19 PTS
Preseason Scrimmages: 3-2 OTL at MTL | 3-2 L at MTL
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: MONTRÉAL WON 11-7 IN POINTS (TIED 6-6 IN 2024)
Dec. 30 MTL: 3-1 MTL | Jan. 5 BOS (SEATTLE): 3-2 BOS (SO) | Mar. 1 MTL: 3-2 MTL (OT) | Mar. 8 BOS: 3-2 MTL (OT) | Mar. 18 BOS: 3-2 BOS (SO) | Apr. 28 at MTL: 3-2 MTL (OT)
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Montréal won the first game between these teams last season by a score of 3-1. Each of the five games between them after that were decided 3-2 in extra time, with Boston earning two shootout wins and Montréal winning three times in overtime. Counting the 2024 Playoffs, eight of the last nine head-to-head games have gone to OT. The Victoire played a total of five extra-time games against all other opponents last season.
The Victoire failed to win just twice when scoring first last season, going 9-4-1-1 (.800) after opening the scoring. Montréal also finished the season with the best record when allowing the first goal, going 3-3-2-7 (.378) in such games.
Marie-Philip Poulin scored 19 goals in her MVP season, four more than any other PWHL player, and her +17 rating was three better than anyone else. Her 403 faceoff wins were also over 100 more than any other player (Kelly Pannek, 296). The Victoire captain needs one point to reach 50 for her career and one goal to reach 30 — she leads both categories all-time.
Ann-Renée Desbiens earned Goaltender of the Year and was integral in backstopping the Victoire atop the standings while the team allowed the league’s fewest goals against (67) as a unit. They surrendered two or fewer goals in 20 of their 30 games, most in the league, and went 12-4-2-2 in those games.
Nicole Gosling, selected fourth overall in June’s draft, is one of three Victoire picks expected to make their PWHL debut along with Natálie Mlýnková (2nd Rd) and Skylar Irving (3rd Rd). Irving is from Kingston, MA and attended Northeastern.
Jessica DiGirolamo returns to Boston where she played two seasons with the Fleet. She is one of five veteran additions expected to don the Victoire jersey for the first time Sunday along with Abby Roque (NY), Shiann Darkangelo (OTT), Hayley Scamurra (TOR) and defender Maggie Flaherty (MIN).
Montréal's fourth line of Catherine Dubois, Alexandra Labelle and Kaitlin Willoughby are all U SPORTS graduates. Dubois and Labelle played for the Université de Montréal Carabins, Willoughby for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. They unite one day after the Carabins beat the Huskies 30-16 to win the Vanier Cup — Canada’s University Football Championship.
After advancing to the PWHL Walter Cup Finals in the inaugural season, the Fleet barely missed the playoffs, being edged by Ottawa and Minnesota in a tiebreak. Boston went 1-0-1-4 (.222) over their last six games and 9-6-1-2 (.740) when allowing two or fewer goals but were winless (0-0-4-8, .111) when allowing three or more.
Aerin Frankel led the league with 23 games played last season and made 25 or more saves in 15 of them, trailing only Corinne Schroeder (16) in the category.
Two former Beanpot standouts don new letters for Boston this season. Megan Keller will wear the “C” for the first time since her senior season at Boston College in 2018–19. Alina Müller joins the leadership group as an alternate captain, previously wearing a letter at Northeastern as an alternate from 2020–22 and captain in 2022–23.
Susanna Tapani had 11 goals and 18 points while playing in all 30 games for the Fleet last season after finishing with four goals and 13 points in 26 games split between Minnesota and Boston in 2023-24. She scored a goal in each of Boston’s two shootout wins against Montréal last season.
Boston’s roster has representation from a league-high seven different countries counting the U.S. and Canada, plus Austria, Czechia, Germany, Finland and Switzerland.
Haley Winn, the second overall pick and first defender chosen in the 2025 PWHL Draft, headlines a list of six rookies on the Fleet active roster. Of the group, Abby Newhook may be most recognizable for fans from her NCAA career at Boston College.
Kris Sparre will make his PWHL head coaching debut joined by assistant Jordan LaVallée-Smotherman and assistant Stefanie McKeough, who has been with the Fleet since the inaugural season.
Prior to the season, eight players from today’s teams competed in the Rivalry Series including Boston’s Frankel, Keller and Winn alongside Montréal’s Scamurra on Team USA. Poulin, Erin Ambrose, Laura Stacey and Kati Tabin represented the Victoire on Team Canada.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. We have our first game in Boston, and we’re super happy, super excited to have new faces on the team. I can’t wait to put on the jersey. It’s going to be like Christmas! Every time you get the chance to wear the Victoire jersey, there’s nothing better.” – Victoire Captain Marie-Philip Poulin
“It's been really exciting to get back with this group. As a unit, throughout Training Camp, I feel like we brought the pace and there's a lot we can takeaway from our scrimmages up in Montréal. Now we're just looking to build on those lessons going into our home opener in front of our Crew." - Fleet Captain Megan Keller
SUNDAY’S GAME: November 23, 2025, was declared "Fleet Hockey Day" in the City of Lowell by Fleet Season Ticket Member and City Councilor, Wayne Jenness and State Representative Vanna Howard in recognition of the team’s home opener at the Tsongas Center. The first 3,500 fans in attendance will receive an exclusive Boston Fleet Sailor Hat to represent being an official member of the Fleet's fanbase, it's "Crew." Fans won’t want to miss a special pre-game ceremony introducing each member of the 2025-26 Boston Fleet. Throughout the concourse, fans can find activations from the NWSL's Boston Legacy, Women X and a poster making station sponsored by Midea.