The first-place Montreal Victoire was a barometer test for the New York Sirens.
If Sunday afternoon’s game was any indication, the Sirens have work to do to be at the Victoire level after the home team took a 2-1 loss to the visitors. It did not help that the Sirens were without Alex Carpenter, who was sidelined with an upper-back injury against the Boston Fleet on Friday night.
The game was like going to a gunfight with a plastic knife against an offense-loaded Victoire team. The Sirens wanted to muck it up and make it ugly for the Victoire to score, but that approach could only go so far. Star power wins at the end of the day, and the Victoire had it with their captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored two of the visitors’ goals in the second period.
Poulin made her mark in the second period by navigating through three defenders (1-on-3 play) and finding an opportunity to score, putting the Victoire ahead 1-0. The Victoire captain did it again four minutes later by scoring on a Sirens’ line change, extending the team’s lead to 2-0.
On this day, the Sirens were no match for Poulin. She put on a show that can only wow the fans. The Sirens hope to see this type of play from rookie Sarah Fillier one day as she continues to gain experience.
The 33-year-old Victoire captain played like a veteran who knows her stuff. After all, she has played in international competitions, so this comes easily to her, whether breaking through defenders or scoring on a line change. She was coming off a hat trick performance in the Victoire’s 4-1 victory against the Ottawa Charge. This and her two-goal performance against the Sirens played a role in her being the first star of the PWHL’s 3 Stars of the Week.
Poulin leads the league with 10 goals after 14 games, which is good enough for her to be the first PWHL player to tally that number this season. She also tied with Toronto’s Natalie Spooner with the most goals in the league since it started last year at 20.
Poulin showed that women’s hockey has always had talent. Canada has produced plenty of that for decades. The PWHL allows players like her to showcase their talent and convince others to follow their example. With more players ready to enter this pro league, this can enable them and the league to make a name for themselves.
Right now, it is indeed working in Montreal. A player like Poulin can lead the Victoire to their first Walter Cup this season. She always has been a star, and the PWHL has validated why she is a special player.
From watching the Victoire captain, it was impressive to see how she put herself in a position to score, particularly the line change, and that is something you expect from a wily veteran. Poulin’s play is why the Victoire are on a five-game winning streak heading to the international break. She gives Montreal fans a reason to dream about the Victoire winning the Walter Cup this year.
The Sirens should be good enough to make the playoffs, and maybe they make a run, but they would need a player like Poulin who can elevate the team. Fillier may be hitting the rookie wall. Who knows when Carpenter is coming back? The Sirens don’t have that much scoring punch to counteract what Montreal is doing. That’s what we learned from watching the game on Sunday. Star power matters and Victoire has one in Poulin. Maybe the game would have turned out to be different if Carpenter played. We will never know.
The Victoire should feel in good shape right now. They are clicking as the Sirens try to find their second wind, and it helps that Montreal probably has the best player in the PWHL.
