The Montreal Victoire have won the opening game of the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League Finals. On Thursday at the Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, the Victoire defeated the Ottawa Charge in dramatic fashion by a score of 3-2.
Abby Roque and Canadian Olympic gold medalist Laura Stacey of Mississauga, Ontario led the Victoire in scoring with two points each. Roque had two goals, while Stacey had two assists. Roque scored the game-winning goal from Stacey and Maggie Flaherty at 2:29 of the extra period.
The fact that Stacey was playing in the overtime was surprising. That is because she suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury late in the third period, as she needed help off the ice. However, Stacey returned for the extra period after Nicole Gosling of London, Ontario tied the game at two with 2.1 seconds left in regulation.
Stacey won a gold medal for Canada at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. During the 2026 PWHL Playoffs, she has three goals and three assists for six points. Stacey has four penalty minutes, two power-play points, three blocked shots and 20 shots.
Game two of the series will be in Montreal on Saturday. The series then shifts to Ottawa on Monday.
