VANCOUVER (Interstat) — Hayley Scamurra scored three third-period goals, but the Montreal Victoire could not complete a four-goal comeback and fell 4-3 to the Vancouver Goldeneyes on April 21 at Pacific Coliseum. Vancouver built a 4-0 lead before Montreal surged in the final period. Tereza Vanišová had one goal and two assists for Vancouver, which improved to 11-18. Montreal dropped to 21-8. The Professional Women’s Hockey League game turned on Montreal’s late push and Vancouver’s ability to hold on after controlling much of the first two periods.

Sarah Nurse opened the scoring at 15:12 of the first period, with Vanišová and Anna Meixner assisting. Sophie Jaques was sent off for delay of game at 16:01. Vancouver extended its lead in the second period when Ashton Bell scored at 9:25, assisted by Nina Jobst-Smith and Vanišová. The period also included penalties to Vancouver’s Sarah Nurse for tripping at 5:04, Montreal’s Jessica DiGirolamo for tripping at 7:36 and Montreal’s Shiann Darkangelo for slashing at 12:14. Montreal could not convert on its chances, and Kristen Campbell made 25 saves on 28 shots for Vancouver to earn the win.

Vancouver made it 3-0 at 1:31 of the third period when Vanišová scored, with Michelle Karvinen assisting. Claire Thompson then scored at 5:06 with assists from Abby Boreen and Sophie Jaques. Thompson was called for cross checking at 9:35, and Montreal finally broke through. Scamurra scored at 12:10 from Erin Ambrose and Nicole Gosling. She scored again at 13:26 from Lina Ljungblom and Gosling. Scamurra completed the hat trick at 14:54 from Ambrose and Gosling, pulling Montreal within one goal.

Scamurra finished with three goals and five shots on goal. Gosling set up all three Montreal goals and added one shot and three hits. Ambrose had two assists and one shot. Ljungblom recorded one assist, five shots and one hit. Abby Roque added two shots and one hit for Montreal. Despite the pressure, Montreal could not find the equalizer. Campbell and the Goldeneyes survived the final minutes. Vancouver’s penalty kill also handled the chances it faced, while Montreal’s comeback fell just short.

Vanišová was Vancouver’s top star, finishing with one goal, two assists, four shots and three hits. Sarah Nurse had one goal, four shots and two penalty minutes. Claire Thompson added one goal, two shots and two penalty minutes. Michelle Karvinen recorded one assist, two shots and one hit. Ashton Bell also scored for Vancouver. Anna Meixner, Nina Jobst-Smith, Sophie Jaques and Abby Boreen each contributed assists as Vancouver built its lead.

Montreal had entered on a strong run, but the Victoire could not extend that success. The Victoire had also posted a 3-0 win over Vancouver in the most recent head-to-head game, part of a stretch in which Montreal allowed just three goals across five victories. Vancouver had won two in a row, including an overtime victory at Seattle and a home win over Seattle, and used its early cushion to secure the result. The Goldeneyes carried that momentum into the first period and built a lead that proved just large enough. The Goldeneyes improved their record while handing Montreal a rare loss in a game that featured five minor penalties and a frantic third period. Montreal put 28 shots on Campbell. The loss leaves Montreal at 21-8 and Vancouver at 11-18. Both teams continue their schedules. Montreal is set to visit Seattle, while Vancouver is scheduled to host Minnesota.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Montreal with a 62.3 percent probability to win. That projection did not hold as Vancouver protected its lead and denied Montreal’s late rally. The Goldeneyes closed out the win.