Victoire blow 3-0 lead and lose 1st-place battle to Fleet in OT

In terms of heartbreaking losses to the Boston Fleet, the Montréal Victoire has lived that before. But after losing 4-3 in overtime to the first-place Fleet despite taking a 3-0 lead into the third period, the Victoire is now looking at the positives.

Unlike 2024 when the team lost three straight playoff games in overtime to Boston (9-5-2-3) and saw its season end in a sweep, 11 regular-season games remain and Montreal intends to move forward.

"I'd much prefer this happening now than later on down the road, that's for sure," Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie said from Laval, Que. "This is a great learning for us to have now instead of May."

Added Montreal forward Laura Stacey: "The messaging, the feeling in the room is let it hurt tonight. We regroup, we have another game Thursday and we have to learn from it."

And Stacey feels there's plenty Montreal (9-4-1-5) can take away from the game.

"There's a lot to learn, but there's also some really great things to be proud of," she said. "We're up 3-0 against the first-place team in the league.

"Our power play is clicking; our penalty kill killed a five-minute major in the third period. The physicality, the first 48 minutes of the game, we owned it. The shots on goal. Frankel is a great goaltender, to get three on her that's something to be proud of."

Fleet edge Victoire in OT to remain 1st place in PWHL standings

Stacey's words have weight to them. With Montreal defender Erin Ambrose on long-term injured reserve and captain Marie-Philip Poulin leaving the game in the first period, Stacey is the only member of the team's usual leadership group remaining.

With just over three minutes remaining in the first and Montreal on the power play, Poulin collided with Boston forward