Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey (New York Sirens home game)
Broadcast/Streaming: PWHL YouTube (free), regional networks, and League Pass equivalents
This PWHL matchup pits two closely matched playoff contenders in the first game back after the 2026 Olympic break (Milan-Cortina). The Victoire sit third in the standings with elite defense, while the Sirens occupy fourth with higher-scoring offense but leakier play. Both teams enter rested, making this a pivotal early post-break test with playoff positioning on the line in the compact eight-team league (top four make playoffs; 30-game regular season, roughly halfway complete).
Recent Form (Pre-Olympic Break)
Both teams paused for Olympics; last games in late January.
- Victoire (strong close to break): Notable results include 3-0 shutout win vs. Toronto (Jan. 28, Desbiens 22 saves), wins vs. Minnesota and Ottawa earlier in January. They entered the break riding momentum with stingy defense and timely scoring from veterans. Overall pre-break: competitive in most outings, few regulation losses.
- Sirens (mixed, with flashes): Wins over Montreal (2-1 on Jan. 18 in record crowd), Ottawa, and others; losses to Minnesota, Boston. They showed resilience in one-goal games but struggled with defensive consistency. Pre-break: points in several but no long streak.
Post-break freshness favors both, but Montreal’s tighter structure could prevail in a low-event game.
Injury Report
No major injuries reported for either side heading into the post-Olympic resumption. PWHL teams typically manage minor upper-body or maintenance issues quietly, with no LTIR or significant absences noted in recent team updates. Both rosters expected at or near full strength:
- Montreal relies on star goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens and captain Marie-Philip Poulin remaining healthy.
- New York leans on rookie phenom Kristýna Kaltounková and goalie Kayle Osborne. Monitor pre-game warmups for any last-minute tweaks, but this projects as a healthy, high-stakes clash.
Key Player Matchups
- Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL, captain, veteran scorer) vs. New York’s defensive corps (led by Ella Shelton, Jaime Bourbonnais): Poulin’s leadership, two-way play, and clutch scoring make her Montreal’s engine. New York must contain her without overcommitting.
- Ann-Renée Desbiens (MTL goalie) vs. New York’s young forwards (Sarah Fillier, Kristýna Kaltounková, Paetyn Levis): Desbiens is a wall (strong GAA/save % pre-break); Sirens’ speed and rookie chemistry (Kaltounková ~8+ goals) will test her.
- Kayle Osborne (NY goalie) vs. Montreal’s balanced attack (Poulin, Laura Stacey, others): Osborne has been hot in stretches (multiple wins with 30+ saves); Montreal’s low-event style could frustrate her.
- Defensive battle: Montreal’s elite GA (21 in 15 GP) vs. New York’s higher-event style. Special teams will decide close games—both teams opportunistic on power plays.
Edge: Montreal in goaltending and structure; New York in raw skill/speed from youth movement.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
The teams have split recent meetings with tight, competitive results:
- Jan. 18, 2026: New York 2-1 Montreal (record U.S. women’s hockey crowd in D.C.; Kaltounková and Cherkowski goals for NY).
- Jan. 2, 2026: New York 4-3 Montreal (at Prudential Center; Osborne 42 saves).
- Earlier (Nov. 25, 2025): Montreal 4-0 New York. New York has won the last two (both one-goal games), but Montreal dominated earlier. Overall league history favors competitive, low-scoring affairs. At Prudential Center, Sirens are tough but Montreal has shown road resilience in spots.
Betting Trends
- Montreal: Strong Under correlation; excellent road defense but poor road record overall. Win 3 of last 5 pre-break.
- New York: Home underdogs with cover potential in one-goal games; Over in higher-scoring home tilts but recent Sirens games tight. 2 straight wins vs. Montreal.
- League-wide: Low totals hit frequently post-break (rested defenses); favorites win ~55-60% but road dogs like NY cover in rivalries.
- Prudential Center: Sirens competitive but not dominant at home.
GAME ODDS
Montreal Victoire – 120
New York Sirens 4.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 25, 2026
