Stacey Hat Trick Not Enough as Frost Take Game 1

A hat trick from Laura Stacey wasn’t enough to take down the Minnesota Frost in a back-and-forth series opener, but there are plenty of positives to build on heading into the next game.

Montreal kicked off its 2026 playoff run at home, with a crowd at Place Bell clearly hungry for the Walter Cup. Marie-Philip Poulin made her return to the lineup at home for the first time since March 15, and you could feel the energy around it. As expected, she didn’t look close to 100% early on, not even at 60%. But as the game went on, she started to find her rhythm. You could see her loosen up shift by shift, playing with more confidence and less hesitation as she settled back into the pace of the game.

A rough start for Montreal

Montreal has had its share of mediocre first periods this season, but calling this one concerning would be an understatement. Minnesota came out strong, giving Montreal no space in their own zone and making every breakout a struggle. Not only was Montreal off its game, but the Frost looked exactly like the playoff team we expected: mean, gritty, and relentless.

Minnesota started dominant, getting two past Ann-Renée Desbiens in the first, something we didn’t see often during the regular season. The tide wasn’t in the Victoire’s favor until Taylor Heise broke in alone on a breakaway. She’s the last player you want with that kind of time and space, but Desbiens came up with a crucial save that seemed to shift the tone on the Victoire bench.

From that moment on, Montreal looked like a different team. Darkangelo got them on the board, settling things down and sparking momentum that carried through the final 40 minutes.

Plenty to build on

Laura Stacey tied the game with a wraparound goal, beating Maddie Rooney, who was quite chippy in the scrums in her crease. But just 44 seconds later, Grace Zumwinkle responded to restore Minnesota’s lead. That back-and-forth pattern defined the rest of the game: Stacey scores, Minnesota scores. It continued all the way into overtime, where Jincy Roese scored her first with the team to give the Frost the series lead.

Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives for Montreal. They controlled much of the second and third periods and, at times, looked like the better team. “I believe in this group more than anything. The resilience we showed today and the way nothing phased us,” said Stacey after her hat trick. Head coach Kori Cheverie shared that sentiment, highlighting the team’s character and ability to keep pushing back.

Special teams were another positive takeaway, as Montreal held its own against Minnesota’s top-ranked power play, reinforcing how critical those moments will be as the series unfolds. As Abby Roque noted, "When you're going against a team that has the first power play in the league, you know that power play and penalty kill are going to be important. It's gonna be part of this series."

The game also had its share of controversy. Britta Curl was ejected for a hit on Kaitlin Willoughby, a call that pleased fans in a game where officiating was otherwise under heavy scrutiny. Roque, sporting a fresh shiner, didn’t hold back: “I wasn’t happy. There are definitely some calls they should just let go.”

Montreal will look to tie the series at home on Tuesday.