LAVAL (Interstat) — Ann-Renée Desbiens made 24 saves on 25 shots and Montréal Victoire scored four times in the first period to defeat Seattle Torrent 4-1 on April 7 at Place Bell. The Victoire improved to 21-7 and extended their winning streak to five games. The Torrent fell to 8-19 and lost their third straight. Desbiens earned the win and was Montréal’s top star. The home team took control early and never trailed. Seattle managed one first-period goal but could not mount a comeback against Desbiens, who turned aside 24 shots. Montréal’s four-goal first period set the tone for the rest of the game. The Victoire defense limited Seattle’s chances after the opening frame, and the home crowd saw Montréal secure another strong result. Montréal also beat Seattle 4-1 on March 19 in the teams’ previous meeting.

Montréal needed only 2:28 to open the scoring. Natálie Mlýnková scored with assists from Alexandra Labelle and Lina Ljungblom. The goal gave the Victoire a lead they would not surrender. At 3:43, Laura Stacey made it 2-0, with Ljungblom and Nicole Gosling earning assists. Ljungblom’s second assist of the period came on a quick sequence that stretched Seattle’s defense. Seattle responded at 9:53 when Theresa Schafzahl scored. Hilary Knight and Lyndie Lobdell assisted on the Torrent’s only goal. The momentum shift was brief. At 11:55, Skylar Irving scored for Montréal, with Maggie Flaherty and Desbiens picking up assists. Desbiens became the rare goaltender to record an assist. At 19:48, Shiann Darkangelo closed the first-period scoring. Abby Roque and Kati Tabin assisted. Montréal led by three goals after the opening period, and neither team scored again. All five goals came in the first period, with Montréal’s four goals coming in a span of 17 minutes and 20 seconds. Seattle’s goal at 9:53 briefly cut the lead to 2-1 before Irving restored the two-goal cushion.

The first period also featured six penalties. Montréal was called for too many players at 2:57, less than 30 seconds after Mlýnková’s goal. Seattle’s Anna Wilgren received a tripping penalty at 3:28. Natálie Mlýnková was sent off for holding at 5:50. Wilgren returned to the box for cross checking at 6:48. Seattle was then penalized for too many players at 7:19, after Wilgren’s second penalty. Kati Tabin received a two-minute penalty for a hit to the head at 11:38. The special teams units had opportunities, but the game remained scoreless on the power play. The frequent whistles interrupted flow, yet Montréal’s offense stayed sharp when play resumed. Seattle could not capitalize on its chances, and Desbiens remained steady in net. The Torrent’s penalties limited their ability to build sustained pressure, while Montréal’s penalty kill kept Seattle off the board. Seattle was penalized three times in the first period, and Montréal was penalized three times.

Mlýnková finished with one goal, four shots on goal and two penalty minutes. Darkangelo had one goal and three shots. Stacey also scored one goal and recorded three shots. Schafzahl scored Seattle’s lone goal and had three shots. Ljungblom recorded two assists, one shot and one hit. Tabin added one assist, two shots, two penalty minutes and one hit. Roque contributed one assist and one shot. Gosling had one assist, three shots and one hit. Irving scored one goal on two shots. Desbiens stopped 24 of 25 shots for the win. The production came from across Montréal’s lineup, with multiple forwards and defenders contributing to the attack. Mlýnková’s goal was the first of the game and gave Montréal a lead it never lost. Desbiens’ assist on Irving’s goal was one of the key plays of the period. Seattle’s best chance came from Schafzahl, but the Torrent could not generate enough shots to challenge Desbiens after the first period.

Seattle entered the game after a 2-1 shootout loss at New York on April 4. The Torrent had lost 2-0 at home to Ottawa on March 29. Before that, Seattle defeated New York 4-1 at home on March 25. Seattle also lost at Boston on March 21 and at Montréal on March 19. The Torrent’s record has been built around a difficult schedule, and the team has struggled to string together wins. Seattle’s previous victory over Montréal this season came on December 23, when the Torrent won 2-1 at home. Earlier in the season, Seattle beat Toronto 6-4 on Jan. 20, beat Boston 3-2 on March 11, and beat Ottawa 4-1 on Dec. 17. The Torrent have also dropped games at Minnesota, Toronto, Ottawa, Boston, New York and Vancouver. Other Seattle results include a 2-1 overtime loss to Boston at home on Jan. 18, a 3-2 overtime win at Toronto on Jan. 3, a 4-3 overtime loss at Vancouver on Nov. 21, a 4-2 win at Vancouver on Nov. 16, and a 3-0 loss at Vancouver on Nov. 15. Montréal entered on a four-game winning streak. The Victoire beat Ottawa 3-0 on April 3, Vancouver 3-0 on April 1, New York 3-1 on March 28 and Minnesota 3-0 on March 25. Montréal’s only recent setback before that run was a 2-1 overtime loss at Ottawa on March 22. The Victoire have been strong at home and carried that form into Place Bell.

Montréal’s next game is at Boston on April 11. The Victoire then host Boston on April 17 before visiting Vancouver on April 21. Montréal will visit Seattle on April 25. After that, Montréal has a series against Minnesota on May 2, May 5, May 7, May 8 and May 12. The Victoire host Ottawa on May 14. Seattle’s next game is at Ottawa on April 8. The Torrent then visit Vancouver on April 14 and host Vancouver on April 18. Seattle hosts Minnesota on April 22 and Montréal on April 25. The rematch in Seattle gives the Torrent a chance to respond after the loss at Place Bell. Both teams have busy schedules ahead, with divisional and cross-conference matchups that will shape the late-season standings. Seattle will need stronger starts to avoid falling behind early, while Montréal will look to carry its recent form into a demanding stretch.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Montréal with a 67.5 percent probability to win. No point spread, betting line or over-under information was provided.