Chuli remains undefeated as Montreal beats Minnesota in battle of top PWHL teams

Elaine Chuli made 21 saves for her fourth win in as many starts as Montreal defeated Minnesota 2-1 in the Professional Women's Hockey League on Sunday afternoon in Laval, Que.

Chuli, who's playing back up to Canada No. 1 Ann-Renée Desbiens, is the only goalie to see action without a loss this season. She entered the game with a league-leading .962 save percentage.

Sarah Lefort scored the game-winning goal and Claire Dalton also found the back of the net for Montreal (4-3-2-2), which was shut out 3-0 against Toronto on Friday in front of a women's hockey record crowd of 19,285 at Scotiabank Arena.

Captain Kendall Coyne Schofield scored the lone goal for league-leading Minnesota (5-2-2-3), which won 2-1 at Ottawa on Saturday. Maddie Rooney stopped 18 shots in her first loss.

A rowdy sold-out crowd of 10,172 spectators took in the battle between the PWHL's top two teams at Place Bell.

WATCH l Montreal edges PWHL-leading Minnesota:

Dalton opened the scoring on the power play 3:41 into the first period, deflecting a point shot from Kati Tabin past Rooney for her second of the season. It was only Montreal's third power-play goal this year.

Montreal controlled the play through much of the period, holding Minnesota without a shot on goal until 12:22 into the game.

Coyne Schofield got Minnesota on the board at 17:42 after picking up a rebound and finishing a sweet backhand over Chuli's left shoulder for her fourth.

Lefort scored her first on the season 14:06 into the second to put Montreal up 2-1. She started the play by setting up Madison Bizal for a one-timer with a saucer pass, and finished it by burying the rebound.

After Erin Ambrose slid into her crease, Chuli made a couple big stops on Minnesota's Kelly Pannek without