Victoire climb to top of PWHL standings with win over Boston

The Montreal Victoire's power play may be struggling, but their penalty kill is helping them win games and move up the standings.

Montreal thwarted the Boston Fleet's power play five times — including a five-minute major to start the third period — en route to a 3-1 win on Monday night in the Professional Women's Hockey League.

Kristin O'Neill also scored a short-handed goal in the second period that stood as the game-winner.

"It was a lesson in penalty killing," said Victoire goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens, who stopped 18 shots before a sellout crowd of 10,172 at Place Bell.

With a 3-1 lead, the Victoire held the Fleet to only one shot after forward Catherine Dubois's game misconduct for hitting Boston defender Megan Keller to the head to end the second.

WATCH | Victoire's Dubois ejected for hit to head on Fleet's Keller:

Victoire's Dubois ejected for hit to head on Fleet's Keller

Montreal also shut down Boston's power play — which entered 4 for 10 on the season — twice more in the third period of a chippy contest between former playoff foes.

"Our PK was probably hungrier than their power play," Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie said. "I didn't think we gave up a lot of quality opportunities to them, a lot of good looks."

"I thought that there were a couple of penalties that were not disciplined, and luckily our PK was able to combat that," she added.

Montreal's league-worst power play fell to 2 for 25 on the season and has failed to score in its last 18 attempts.

The penalty kill, however, ranks second in the league (15 for 17) after Monday night's showing.

WATCH | Mic'd Up with Marie-Philip Poulin:

PWHL Mic'd Up: Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin

Cheverie said her team rallied around Dubois between periods,