Game Details
The Minnesota Frost will face off against the Montreal Victoire in a key PWHL matchup on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The game is set to take place at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Canada.
Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 PM EST (1:00 PM CST for Minnesota viewers).
This contest marks the first meeting between these two teams in the 2025-26 season and will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network and FOX 9+ in Minnesota, with additional streaming options available via the PWHL’s official platforms.
Place Bell, home to the Victoire, is a modern multi-purpose arena with a capacity of around 10,000 for hockey games. It has hosted numerous PWHL events since the league’s inception, providing a vibrant atmosphere for Montreal’s passionate fanbase. The Frost will be playing on the road, where they have historically faced challenges against Eastern Conference opponents like Montreal.
Recent Team Forms
Minnesota comes into this game off a tough 2-5 loss to the Ottawa Charge on January 3, 2026, at TD Place Arena.
Prior to that setback, the Frost had been on a solid run, winning four of their previous six games, including a notable overtime victory against Boston. Their offense has been potent in spurts, averaging 3.2 goals per game, but defensive lapses have cost them in recent outings. Goaltending has been a mixed bag, with Nicole Hensley shouldering much of the load but allowing an average of 2.8 goals against.
Montreal, meanwhile, has hit a rough patch, dropping their last game to the New York Sirens in a New Year’s matchup, marking their second straight regulation loss.
Before that, the Victoire showed resilience with back-to-back overtime wins, but they’ve struggled with consistency, particularly on the power play (converting at just 18% this season). Their defense ranks among the league’s best, allowing only 2.4 goals per game, but offensive production has dipped to 2.6 goals scored per contest in their last five games.
Recent Form (Last 5 Games):
Minnesota Frost: L-W-OTW-L-W (2-1-1-1, 8 points)
Montreal Victoire: L-L-OTW-W-OTL (2-1-1-2, 8 points)
Injury Report
Information on injuries remains limited as of January 3, 2026, with no major updates from official PWHL sources for this specific matchup.
For Minnesota, forward Grace Zumwinkle and defender Dominique Petrie have been sidelined in recent weeks due to upper-body issues, but their status for January 4 is day-to-day.
Defender Sophie Jaques, who returned from an upper-body injury earlier in the season, is expected to play a full role.
For Montreal, forward Laura Stacey suffered a lower-body injury in a December 2025 game but has since returned to the lineup without reported setbacks.
The Victoire appear mostly healthy, with no confirmed absences heading into the weekend. Both teams’ medical staffs are monitoring minor ailments typical of a grueling season, but expect full rosters unless last-minute scratches occur.
Key Player Matchups
This game features several intriguing individual battles that could swing the outcome:
Taylor Heise (MIN) vs. Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL): Heise, Minnesota’s dynamic forward and leading scorer with 8 goals and 12 assists this season, will be tested by Poulin, Montreal’s captain and all-around star (7 goals, 10 assists). Poulin’s defensive prowess could neutralize Heise’s speed in transition, but if Heise breaks free, she could exploit Montreal’s occasional turnovers.
Kendall Coyne Schofield (MIN) vs. Erin Ambrose (MTL): Coyne Schofield’s veteran leadership and quick shot (6 goals) will challenge Ambrose, one of the PWHL’s top defensemen known for her shot-blocking and puck-moving ability. This matchup on the blue line could dictate control of the neutral zone.
Nicole Hensley (MIN) vs. Ann-Renée Desbiens (MTL) in Goal: Expect a goaltending duel, with Hensley posting a .915 save percentage for Minnesota and Desbiens at .922 for Montreal. Desbiens has been particularly strong at home, stopping 94% of shots in Place Bell this season.
Other notables include Minnesota’s Kelly Pannek facing off against Montreal’s Kristin O’Neill in the faceoff circle, where both hover around 55% win rates, and the power-play units: Minnesota’s (22% efficiency) against Montreal’s penalty kill (85% success rate).
Series History
The rivalry between Minnesota and Montreal has been one-sided in Montreal’s favor historically. Across 11 previous meetings since the PWHL’s launch, the Victoire hold a 7-4 edge in wins, including a 4-1 record at home.
Last season, Montreal won the series 4-2, with games often decided by two goals or fewer.
The Frost’s most recent victory came in a high-scoring 4-2 win during the 2025 Takeover Tour in Denver, where they capitalized on Montreal’s defensive breakdowns.
Overall, games average 4.8 total goals, with Montreal outscoring Minnesota 29-25 in the all-time series.
Betting Trends
Minnesota Frost: The Frost are 3-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last five road games but have gone under the total in four of their last six outings. They’ve struggled as underdogs, going 2-3 this season, but cover the puck line 60% of the time in losses.
Montreal Victoire: Montreal is 4-1 ATS at home this season and has won three of their last five as favorites. The under has hit in five of their eight games, aligning with their low-scoring style. Against Western teams like Minnesota, they’ve covered in 70% of matchups.
Head-to-Head Trends: In the last five meetings, the home team has won four times, and the under has cashed in three. Montreal is 5-0 ATS in their last five home games vs. Minnesota.
Overall league trends show PWHL games trending under this season (55% of games), with home teams winning 58% of contests.
GAME ODDS
Minnesota Frost 4.5
Montreal Victoire – 120
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, January 3, 2026
