Marie-Philip Poulin's overtime heroics propelled the Montreal Victoire to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday night at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. This marks the second time this season that Poulin has scored an overtime winner against the Frost, underscoring her clutch performance. The win brings the Victoire within one point of the third-place Frost in the PWHL standings.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

• Poulin's continued dominance: Marie-Philip Poulin once again proved why she is considered one of the best in the game. Her overtime goal, a spinning backhand shot, showcased her skill and composure in critical moments. This goal was her sixth of the season and the 35th of her career, with 10 of those being game-winners. Victoire goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens praised Poulin's work ethic and impact on the team, highlighting her ability to perform in important moments.

• Goaltending battle: The game was a showcase of strong goaltending on both ends of the ice. Ann-Renée Desbiens was stellar for Montreal, stopping 23 of 24 shots and making her 11th consecutive start allowing two or fewer goals this season. Nicole Hensley of the Frost also played well, saving 24 of 26 shots, though she was handed her second overtime loss in seven starts. Desbiens has been a key factor in Montreal's defensive strength, as they are the stingiest team in the league, having allowed just 19 goals.

• Tight defensive matchup: The game was a tight, defensive battle, as foreshadowed, with Montreal known for their tight defense and Minnesota for their high scoring offense. Maureen Murphy scored her first goal of the season late in the second period, redirecting a shot from Nicole Gosling to give Montreal a 1-0 lead. The Frost, who entered the game leading the league with 37 goals, were held scoreless through two periods for the first time this season. Kelly Pannek scored late in the third period to tie the game with just over a minute remaining, but Poulin's overtime goal sealed the victory for Montreal. The Victoire outshot the Frost 26-24, marking the first time Minnesota has been outshot at home this season.

Looking ahead, Montreal will host Ottawa on Saturday in their first of two final games before the Olympic break. Minnesota will face New York on Sunday, a rematch of last Friday's game where the Frost secured a 3-2 overtime win. Six players from the Frost are set to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.