Montreal Canadiennes Aim to Secure Top Spot in PWHL Standings

The Montreal Canadiennes, a team in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), are aiming to secure the top spot in the league standings as the regular season nears its end. The Canadiennes are currently tied for second place with the Minnesota Whitecaps, trailing the league-leading Toronto team by three points.

With three games remaining in the regular season, the Canadiennes' general manager, Danièle Sauvageau, has stated that their objective since the beginning of the season has been to finish in first place. "Our goal remains attainable," Sauvageau said. The Canadiennes can clinch a playoff spot with a regulation win against the New York Riveters on Wednesday night or if the Boston Pride lose to the Ottawa team in regulation.

The Canadiennes have been strengthened by recent roster moves, including the acquisition of defenseman Amanda Boulier from Ottawa and the signing of forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis, who was previously released by Ottawa. Top defender Erin Ambrose has been performing exceptionally since returning from the world championship, recording the first four-point game in PWHL history and earning the league's first star of the week.

The team is also receiving additional support from Hall of Famer Caroline Ouellette, who has been increasing her presence with the Canadiennes as a consultant. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin leads the team with nine goals and 21 points, while Ambrose is the PWHL's leader in points by a defender.

Why this matters: The race for the top spot in the PWHL standings remains tight, with Toronto, Montreal, and Minnesota all vying for the chance to choose their first-round playoff opponent. Securing the top seed would give the Canadiennes home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs and the ability to select a more favorable matchup in the first round.

The Canadiennes will play their regular-season home finale against the New York Riveters on Wednesday night at the Verdun Auditorium, their usual home arena. Despite recently playing in front of a record crowd of 21,105 at the Bell Centre, the team expects a more intimate crowd of around 3,200 for this crucial game. A win would not only clinch a playoff berth for Montreal but also keep their hopes of finishing first in the standings alive.

Key Takeaways

• Montreal Canadiennes aim to secure top spot in PWHL standings with 3 games left.
• Canadiennes can clinch playoff spot with regulation win vs. New York Riveters or Boston Pride loss.
• Canadiennes bolstered by recent roster moves, including acquisition of Boulier and signing of Grant-Mentis.
• Ambrose leads PWHL in points by a defender, Poulin leads Canadiennes in goals and points.
• Securing top seed would give Canadiennes home-ice advantage and choice of first-round opponent.