The 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs are heating up as the Montréal Victoire face off against the Minnesota Frost in Game 4 of their semifinal series. With the Victoire leading 2-1, the matchup promises to be exciting at Grand Casino Arena on May 8, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Game Preview: Montréal vs. Minnesota
This game marks a significant moment for the Victoire, as it’s their first time leading in a playoff series. Following their impressive win in Game 3, they achieved their first playoff road victory in team history.
Current Series Standings
- Game 1: Minnesota 5, Montréal 4 (OT)
- Game 2: Montréal 1, Minnesota 0 (3OT)
- Game 3: Montréal 2, Minnesota 1
- Game 4: at Minnesota
- Game 5: at Montréal (May 11)
In the 2025-26 season, Montréal dominated their encounters against Minnesota, securing 10 points in their previous matchups.
Team Performance and Key Players
Montréal’s top scorer, Laura Stacey, has recorded four points in three games (3 goals, 1 assist). Their goaltender, Ann-Renée Desbiens, boasts an impressive 1.58 goals against average (GAA) with a .937 save percentage (SV%).
Meanwhile, Sidney Morin leads the Frost with two points (2 goals, 0 assists) in three games, while goaltender Maddie Rooney has a 1.86 GAA and a .927 SV%. The Frost’s special teams have struggled, sitting at only 7.1% on the power play in this series.
Special Teams Insight
- Montréal’s power play: 2/10 (20.0%)
- Montréal’s penalty kill: 13/14 (92.9%)
- Minnesota’s power play: 1/14 (7.1%)
- Minnesota’s penalty kill: 8/10 (80.0%)
Montréal set a PWHL record in Game 3 by effectively stopping all seven power plays faced, highlighting their strong defensive performance.
Milestone Moments
In Game 3, Maggie Flaherty and Hayley Scamurra scored back-to-back goals in just 24 seconds, the fastest-ever recorded in PWHL playoff history. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 27 seconds.
Ann-Renée Desbiens has consistently prevented the Frost from scoring over multiple games, creating a formidable challenge for Minnesota moving forward in the series.
Coaching and Expectations
Victoire Head Coach Kori Cheverie emphasized the team’s need for recovery and stated that they would adjust their approach in preparation for Game 4. The Frost’s defender, Sidney Morin, expressed confidence in their ability to reclaim momentum in front of a home crowd.
With the stakes high, both teams are poised for a thrilling match. The game will be broadcast live on various platforms, including FOX 9+ and PWHL YouTube channel.
