Friday, April 17, 2026 | 7 p.m. ET | Place Bell
WATCH LIVE: TSN 1/5, TSN.ca, TSN App, NESN, RDS, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International), More
EN: Kenzie Lalonde (Play-by-Play), Cheryl Pounder (Analyst), Kelly Greig (Reporter);
FR: Claudine Douville (Play-by-Play), Isabelle Leclaire (Analyst), Catherine Savoie (Reporter), Andrée‑Anne Barbeau (Studio Host), Karell Emard (Studio Analyst)
BOSTON FLEET
15-5-2-5 | 57 PTS | 2ND PLACE
Top Scorer: Alina Müller – 27 GP, 4-17-21 PTS
Last Game: 3-2 W vs. MIN on Apr. 15
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE
16-4-2-5 | 58 PTS | 1ST PLACE
Top Scorer: Laura Stacey – 27 GP, 7-14-21 PTS
Last Game: 1-0 W at BOS on Apr. 11
2025-26 SEASON SERIES: BOSTON LEADS 5-4 IN POINTS (MONTRÉAL LEADS 21-18 IN POINTS ALL-TIME)
Nov. 23 at BOS: 2-0 BOS | Mar. 15 at MTL: 4-3 BOS (OT) | Apr. 11 at BOS: 1-0 MTL | Apr. 17 at MTL
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Boston and Montréal are the only two teams in contention for first place in the standings but either team can still finish as low as third place behind Minnesota. The Victoire need just one point and the Fleet need two points to clinch a top two seed and home ice advantage in the playoff semifinals.
The Fleet won the first two meetings this season, shutting out the Victoire 2-0 in the season opener in Lowell and winning 4-3 in overtime in Laval in March before the Victoire shut out the Fleet 1-0 at TD Garden this past Saturday. Boston has won four consecutive road games, including three straight in regulation, but have never won in regulation in Montréal, going 0-2-2-2 in their six regular season visits. Their 31 points in 16 games outside of Massachusetts are most in the PWHL on the road.
Boston beat Minnesota, 3-2, at home on Wednesday, improving to 6-0-0-1 in their last seven games, with the lone loss coming on Saturday against Montréal. It was Boston’s 14th one goal game this season, tied with Toronto for most in the PWHL. The Fleet’s nine one-goal wins lead the league.
Jessie Eldridge scored Boston’s first two goals and assisted the other on Wednesday. She had zero points in her first three games with the Fleet after her trade from Seattle but has five goals in five games since then. One of Eldridge’s goals on Wednesday came on the power play, making her the first PWHL player to score 10 career power-play goals.
Alina Müller had a season-high three points (1G, 2A) against the Frost to eclipse 20 for the first time in her career. Her 17 assists are tied with Taylor Heise for the most in a season, while both reached 40 career helpers. The Swiss forward has three points against Montréal (3A), along with Finnish forward Susanna Tapani (2G, 1A), who needs one point for 50 career.
Megan Keller leads all skaters with four points in the season series (2G, 2A), but the Fleet captain has been limited to just one point in her last five games (a SHG on Apr. 7).
Jamie Lee Rattray has points in three straight road games (1G, 2A) and her 12 points this season are a career high. She will host an exclusive post-game meet and greet with the U18 Mississauga Hurricanes, a team she helped coach in 2022.
The Victoire are on a six-game winning streak, all of which have been decided in regulation, and a 15-game point streak, the longest in PWHL history. Montréal has outscored opponents 17-2 during the winning streak and are the first team in league history to win six straight games in regulation. They have won three straight games at Place Bell and 10 of 11 overall at their primary home venue, conceding their only loss to Boston in OT.
Ann-Renée Desbiens posted her fifth straight win and seventh shutout of the season at TD Garden. Her 17 wins trail only Aerin Frankel’s 18, but the Victoire netminder has the edge over her American counterpart in goals-against average (1.08 to 1.19) and save percentage (.956 to .953). Desbiens is one win away from 40 for her career, while Frankel is two away.
Lina Ljungblom scored Montréal’s only goal against Boston on Saturday, four days after recording two assists against Seattle. The Swedish forward had four total points in her first 16 games this season prior to those two. She has 13 shots on goal in her last six games after recording eight across her first 12 games.
Laura Stacey is riding a five-game point streak (2G, 4A), one game shy of tying the league’s longest streaks of 2025-26 and has points in six straight games at Place Bell (4G, 5A). The Victoire alternate captain needs two shots on goal for a new single season benchmark, surpassing her own record of 112.
Montréal has 10 different skaters with a power-play goal this season, most in the league and tied for second most by any team in league history (Minnesota had 11 players with a PPG last season). While Erin Ambrose and Nicole Gosling don’t have a PPG, they have combined for 10 power-play assists.
Gosling has an assist in three straight games, tied for her longest point streak of the season, and has three assists in the season series. Her plus-12 rating is second among rookies behind Boston’s Abby Newhook (+15). Her 14 points rank third among rookie defenders behind the 17 by Kendall Cooper and longtime Clarkson teammate Haley Winn of the Fleet.
Shiann Darkangelo tied her career-high with 12 faceoff wins when these teams met at TD Garden Saturday. The Victoire are a perfect 7-0-0-0 when she finds the scoresheet.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Our focus now is to continue to play a compact team game going into the playoffs. You don't get anything for finishing first in April, you get everything for finishing first in May. We know against Montréal it’s going to be a tight checking game and so we will have to stay patient and connected to the game plan.” – Fleet Head Coach Kris Sparre
“It’s a good thing in terms of preparation that we are playing two consecutive games against Boston. We know what to expect. We know the level we need to play at. We know what awaits us on the other side, and now, fortunately, it’s in our building.” - Victoire Head Coach Kori Cheverie
FRIDAY’S GAME: It’s the fourth and final regular-season battle between the league’s top two teams as Montréal welcomes Boston to Place Bell for its final regular-season home game. The Victoire will finish the season with two West Coast road games, while the Fleet will complete their schedule with two games on home ice. History will be made tonight as the PWHL surpasses the one million fans milestone for the first time in a single season.
Tonight is the Victoire Pride Celebration Unity Game designed to celebrate Pride as a moment of visibility, belonging, and community, while recognizing the contributions of 2SLGBTQ+ athletes, leaders, and organizations across Montréal. Developed in collaboration with local community partners, the game centers authenticity, inclusion, and representation, creating space for celebration, connection, and recognition throughout the PWHL game experience. Programming throughout the night highlights the role of 2SLGBTQ+ communities across all levels of sport and society, reinforcing the importance of visibility, access, and belonging both on and off the ice. Programming integrated throughout the full game experience will include:
- Live ceremonial moments highlighting 2SLGBTQ+ voices and community representation
- In-game recognition and storytelling celebrating 2SLGBTQ+ impact in sport and society
- Featured in-arena entertainment spotlighting Montréal’s 2SLGBTQ+ community
- Post-game engagement opportunities connecting players and community partners
Safia Nolin, a Montréal-based singer-songwriter known for their emotive and introspective sound, will perform the Canadian anthem. A prominent voice in Québec’s music scene, Nolin’s work has resonated widely for its authenticity and vulnerability. Their performance will open the game with a meaningful moment that reflects the spirit of Pride and celebrates 2SLGBTQ+ visibility through music. The U.S. anthem will be performed by Ariane Simard.
DJ Montana will be featured throughout the Pride Unity Game, performing during pre-game as well as the first and second intermissions. A proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, DJ Montana is known for her electrifying sets and strong connection to Montréal’s music and nightlife scene. Her presence will help create a high-energy, celebratory atmosphere while highlighting local 2SLGBTQ+ talent.
Michèle Brousseau will be recognized as the Pride Unity Game Warrior of the Game. A longtime leader within Montréal’s 2SLGBTQ+ community, Brousseau has dedicated over 20 years to GRIS Montréal as a Development Planning and Coordination Officer. Her work has played a significant role in advancing education, awareness, and inclusion across Québec, helping to create more informed and inclusive communities.
The Victoire are also proud to welcome 18 different Pride community groups to tonight’s game. Click here for more information. Fans in attendance will also have exclusive access to Victoire x Pride gear available in-arena before the online release.