The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) continues its 2025-26 season with an intriguing interconference matchup between the Montréal Victoire and the Vancouver Goldeneyes. This game pits a surging Montréal squad against an expansion team finding its footing at home. As one of the league’s original franchises, Montréal brings championship pedigree, while Vancouver, in its inaugural season, has quickly established itself as a tough opponent on home ice. With both teams hovering around .500 early in the campaign, this contest could have playoff implications down the line.
Venue Location
The game will be held at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This historic arena, which seats approximately 16,000 fans, has hosted numerous hockey events, including NHL games and international tournaments. It serves as the primary home venue for the Vancouver Goldeneyes during their debut season, providing a vibrant West Coast atmosphere for PWHL action.
Puck drop is set for 12:00 PM PST (3:00 PM EST). The game will be broadcast on CBC and available for streaming on the PWHL’s official platforms.
Team Records
Montréal Victoire: 3-1-0-0 (Wins-Losses-OT Losses-Shootout Losses), 9 points, tied for second in the Eastern Conference.
Vancouver Goldeneyes: 3-3-0-0, 9 points, fourth in the Western Conference.
These records reflect the teams’ performances through December 19, 2025. Montréal has been efficient in close games, while Vancouver has split its first six outings evenly.
Recent Team Forms
Montréal enters on a hot streak, having won their last three games, including a gritty 2-1 shootout victory over the Toronto Sceptres on December 17. Their defense has been stellar, allowing just four goals over that span, anchored by goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens’ standout performances (35 saves in the Toronto win). Offensively, they’ve relied on timely scoring from stars like Marie-Philip Poulin, who netted the shootout winner against Toronto. The Victoire have shown resilience in road games, going 2-0-0-0 away from home so far this season.
Vancouver, meanwhile, is riding a two-game win streak and has won its last three home games, most recently a 2-1 triumph over the Ottawa Charge on December 16. Forward Sophia Chan scored her first PWHL goal in that contest, highlighting the team’s emerging depth. The Goldeneyes have been particularly strong at the Pacific Coliseum, outscoring opponents 7-3 in their home wins. However, they’ve struggled on the road (0-3-0-0), making this home matchup crucial for building momentum.
| Team | Last 5 Games | Streak | Goals For/Against (Last 5) | Power Play % (Season) | Penalty Kill % (Season) |
| Montréal Victoire | 3-1-0-1 | W3 | 12/8 | 22.2% | 88.9% |
| Vancouver Goldeneyes | 3-2-0-0 | W2 | 10/9 | 18.2% | 85.7% |
(Note: Stats approximated from early-season data; PWHL games often feature low-scoring affairs.)
Series History
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Montréal Victoire and Vancouver Goldeneyes. As an expansion team, Vancouver has no prior history against any PWHL opponent, but they’ve already shown they can compete with established clubs like Ottawa. Montréal, coming off a strong 2024-25 season where they finished atop the league standings, will look to assert dominance in this cross-country clash. Future matchups include a rematch in Montréal on January 11, 2026.
Montréal Victoire: Forward Jade Downie-Landry (LTIR, training camp injury – undisclosed); Forward Catherine Dubois (LTIR, upper-body injury). Defender Dominika Lásková was recently activated from LTIR and is expected to play. No day-to-day injuries reported, but the team has managed well despite the absences, calling up Maya Labad for depth.
Vancouver Goldeneyes: Forward Sarah Nurse (LTIR, upper-body injury) remains out indefinitely, having missed action since opening night. This is a significant loss, as Nurse is a key offensive contributor and leader. No other major injuries reported, with the team relying on forwards like Sophia Chan and recent signee Malia Schneider to fill the gap.
Player Matchups
This game features several compelling individual battles that could decide the outcome:
Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL, F) vs. Vancouver’s Top Defense Pair: Poulin, the Victoire captain and a PWHL scoring leader (4 goals, 3 assists in 4 games), will test Vancouver’s blue line. Expect her to match up against defenders like Micah Hart or Kateřina Mrázová, who have been solid in limiting high-danger chances during the Goldeneyes’ home wins.
Ann-Renée Desbiens (MTL, G) vs. Sophia Chan (VAN, F): Desbiens has been a wall in net (1.50 GAA, .950 SV% this season), but she’ll face pressure from Chan, who broke through with her first PWHL goal recently. Chan’s speed could exploit Montréal’s occasional transition lapses.
Laura Stacey (MTL, F) vs. Vancouver’s Penalty Kill Unit: Stacey, recently named PWHLPA President, leads Montréal’s power play (2 PPGs). Vancouver’s PK (85.7%) has been middling, so Stacey’s playmaking could capitalize if the Goldeneyes take penalties.
Vancouver’s Goaltending Tandem vs. Montréal’s Depth Scoring: Emerance Maschmeyer (expected starter for VAN, 2.33 GAA) will need to contain Montréal’s secondary scorers like Kristin O’Neill. If Maschmeyer falters, backup Corinne Schroeder could see time.
These matchups highlight Montréal’s veteran experience against Vancouver’s youthful energy.
Vancouver’s home dominance makes them the edge, but Montréal’s goaltending could keep it close.
Betting Trends
Early in the 2025-26 PWHL season, trends favor unders and home teams:
Home Teams: 65% win rate league-wide (Vancouver is 3-0 at home, covering the puck line in all).
Totals: Unders have hit in 70% of games (average goals: 4.2 per game), due to strong goaltending and physical play.
Expansion Teams: Vancouver and Seattle are 5-5 combined but 4-1 at home, often exceeding expectations as underdogs.
Montréal-Specific: The Victoire are 3-1 to the over on the road but 4-0 ATS (against the spread) in their last four.
GAME ODDS
Montreal Victoire 4.5
Vancouver Goldeneyes – 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 19, 2025
