Maureen Murphy's two-goal performance leads Victoire past Charge 3-1
Montreal improves to 6-3-0-5, jumps into 2nd after home victory
Maureen Murphy scored twice as the Montreal Victoire defeated the Ottawa Charge 3-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Place Bell in Laval, Que., on Saturday afternoon.
Ann-Renée Desbiens made 23 saves for the Victoire (6-3-0-5), who moved into second place in the Professional Women's Hockey League with the win. Abby Roque added an empty-net goal.
Faduza Kadirova scored for the Charge (3-5-0-7). Gwyneth Philips made 33 saves.
Montreal opened the scoring 12:52 into the first period. Amanda Boulier caused a turnover at the Montreal blue-line, leading to a two-on-one. Hayley Scamurra brought the puck in, and while her shot was stopped by Philips, Murphy put away the rebound after trailing the play.
Murphy scored her second of the game on the power play with 14.4 seconds left in the first when she wired a one-timer from the left face-off circle into the top corner of the net off of a pass from Erin Ambrose.
Ottawa appeared to cut the deficit in the first half of the second period, but the play was ruled a no goal because of incidental contact with Desbiens before the puck crossing the line.
With 5:46 remaining in the second period, Ottawa finally got on the board when a Michela Cava shot from the top of the slot hit off of Kadirova to make it 2-1.
The Charge pulled their goaltender with just over two minutes left in regulation to try and find the tying goal.
Desbiens was once again outstanding for Montreal. She has yet to allow more than two goals in a game. She’s also allowed one or fewer goals in seven of her 12 starts this season.
One of Desbiens’ biggest saves came early in the second period, when she stopped Emily Clark's breakaway. It was among the better saves she made in what turned out to be a one-goal game before the empty-net goal.
She also helped shut out Ottawa’s power play units. The Charge had the league’s best power play entering the game, but Desbiens and the Victoire held them without a goal in four opportunities.
Ottawa's only two regulation losses in their last nine games have come against Montreal at Place Bell.
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday. The Victoire will host the Toronto Sceptres and the Charge return to Ottawa to play the Seattle Torrent.
