MONTRÉAL AT MINNESOTA DEC. 28 PRE-GAME PRIMER
Saturday, December 28, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. CT | Xcel Energy Center
WATCH LIVE: FanDuel Sports Network North, CBC TV, CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, ICI TÉLÉ & ICI TOU.TV, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com
EN: Clay Matvick (Play-by-Play), Alexis Pearson (Analyst), Katie Storm (Reporter), Andi Petrillo (CBC Studio Host), Hailey Salvian (CBC Studio Analyst), Saroya Tinker (CBC Studio Analyst);
FR: Roseline Filion (Host), Stéphanie Poirier (Analyst), Isabelle Leclaire (Analyst), Michael Roy (Commentator), Christine Roger (Reporter).
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE
1-2-0-1 | 7 PTS | 3RD PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: Abby Boreen – 4 GP, 2-2-4 PTS
Last Game: 4-3 OTW at TOR on Dec. 21
MINNESOTA FROST
3-1-1-0 | 12 PTS | 1ST PLACE
Top Scorer: Claire Thompson – 5 GP, 1-6-7 PTS
Last Game: 4-3 SOW at NY on Dec. 22
2024 SEASON SERIES: MONTRÉAL WON 10-5 IN POINTS
Jan. 6 at MIN: 3-0 MIN | Jan. 24 at MIN: 2-1 MTL | Feb. 18 at MTL: 2-1 MTL | Mar. 24 at MIN: 3-2 MIN (SO) | Apr. 18 at MTL: 4-3 MTL
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Minnesota won the first meeting between these teams last season, 3-0, but each of the next four games was decided by a single goal or in a shootout, with Montréal winning three of those four. Minnesota won two of the three games at home.
The Victoire are coming off a 4-3 OT win over Toronto on Dec. 21, a game they trailed 2-0 after the first period. It was the second time they’ve rallied from a multi-goal deficit to win this season, also doing so on Nov. 30 vs. Ottawa (trailed 2-0, won 4-3 in shootout). Montréal had zero such games last season.
Laura Stacey scored the overtime winner for Montréal last Saturday, her second PWHL overtime goal (also on Feb. 4 at Boston). She’s one of three PWHL players with multiple OT goals, along with Alex Carpenter (3) and Sarah Nurse (2).
Walter Cup champions Abby Boreen and Clair DeGeorge return to Minnesota for their first game as members of the Victoire. They played collegiately in the State of Hockey for the University of Minnesota and Bemidji State University, respectively. Boreen’s five seasons as a Gopher were played alongside Minnesota’s Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle.
It’s also a homecoming of sorts for Victoire rookie Anna Wilgren who spent five years at Minnesota State University. The former Mavericks captain played alongside Minnesota’s Charlotte Akervik, Brooke Bryant, and Claire Butorac.
Victoire defender Catherine Daoust is expected to make her season debut. The University of Minnesota-Duluth alumna signed from the reserve list with Amanda Boulier on LTIR.
Despite giving up a 3-0 lead, the Frost remained the only team without a regulation loss this season with a 4-3 shootout win over New York last Sunday. Minnesota was also the last team without a regulation loss last season, until falling to Montréal 2-1 in its sixth game of the season (Jan. 24).
Dating back to last season (and including the playoffs), the Frost have lost in regulation just once in their last 12 home games, posting a 3-2-2-1 record in eight regular season games and a 3-1 record in the playoffs, with the playoff loss coming in double overtime.
Kendall Coyne Schofield opened the scoring in Minnesota’s win on Sunday, with Michela Cava picking up an assist on her goal. It was the third time that one of those two has scored off an assist from the other, tied for the most such combinations in the league (also New York’s Alex Carpenter and Sarah Fillier).
Heise scored her first goal of the season against New York and has a four-game point streak. Coyne Schofield, Kelly Pannek, and Claire Thompson all have three-game point streaks. All four players are among the league’s top 12 scorers.
Minnesota has scored first in four of their five games and are tied for the PWHL lead with six goals scored in the first period. Montréal is the only team without a first period goal.
These are the top two teams in shots for/against with Montréal averaging 35.75 shots on goal to Minnesota’s 33.40 per game. The Frost have allowed just 24.80 shots-per-game followed by the Victoire at 29.25 shots-against on average.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“It's really good to be back in Minnesota, surrounded by my new family. There's going to be a lot of excitement around this game, and it's going to be a good test for our group here. I am looking forward to playing them.” – Victoire forward Abby Boreen.
“I’m happy with the way we’ve been able to grind out wins, but it takes a toll, so the rest came at the perfect time. Montréal has top end talent and great depth, so we’ll need to play our best game against them. It’s always good to be at home, and I’m looking forward to a long stretch of games in front of our great fans.” – Frost head coach Ken Klee.
SATURDAY’S GAME: The Frost open a stretch of four games in 12 days at Xcel Energy Center. As part of the PWHL Unity Game schedule, the team will Celebrate Community Heroes. Fans will be introduced to First Responders, Healthcare Workers, Teachers and Volunteers as the Frost honor their dedication and service. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive TRIA Rally Towels courtesy of TRIA Orthopedics.
