Victoire weather late Fleet surge, close on No. 1 PWHL playoff seed with overtime victory

Boston trailed 2-0 early but battled back to force overtime against Montreal at Place Bell.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:58am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the ice. The vibrant uniforms of the Boston Fleet and Montreal Victoire are visible, but no identifiable individuals or logos are present.The Boston Fleet's late comeback against the Montreal Victoire showcased the team's resilience and defensive prowess as they battle for playoff positioning.Boston Today

After Boston's backup goaltender Abbey Levy gave up two early goals, the Fleet rallied in the second and third periods to tie the game at 2-2 and force overtime against the Montreal Victoire. Megan Keller and Haley Winn led the defensive effort for Boston, while Liz Schepers and Tereza Pejšová scored the tying goal in the third period. The Fleet closed in on the top playoff seed with the overtime victory.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Boston Fleet in contention for the No. 1 seed in the PWHL playoffs, while Montreal missed an opportunity to solidify their position. The game featured strong defensive play on both sides and a late comeback by Boston to earn a crucial extra point in the standings.

The details

After Boston's backup goaltender Abbey Levy gave up two early goals to Montreal's Alexandra Labelle and Kaitlin Willoughby, the Fleet settled in and mounted a comeback. Defenders Megan Keller and Haley Winn led the charge, with Keller recording her 12th assist of the season. Liz Schepers set up Tereza Pejšová for the tying goal midway through the third period to make it 2-2 and force overtime.

  • Three minutes into the game, Alexandra Labelle scored to give Montreal a 1-0 lead.
  • At 6:03 of the first period, Kaitlin Willoughby scored to make it 2-0 Montreal.
  • With just over a minute left in the second period, Jenna Eldridge scored to cut the deficit to 2-1.
  • Midway through the third period, Tereza Pejšová scored the tying goal to make it 2-2 and force overtime.

The players

Abbey Levy

Boston's backup goaltender who gave up two early goals but settled in to make 28 saves.

Megan Keller

Boston defender who recorded her 12th assist of the season, a career high, and played a key role in the Fleet's comeback.

Haley Winn

Boston defender who, along with Keller, led the defensive effort that allowed the Fleet to battle back.

Liz Schepers

Boston forward who set up Tereza Pejšová's game-tying goal in the third period.

Tereza Pejšová

Boston forward who scored the game-tying goal midway through the third period to force overtime.

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What they’re saying

“Five hole for”

— x - Boston Fleet, @PWHL_Boston

What’s next

The Fleet close with a pair of games at Lowell's Tsongas Center against teams chasing the league's fourth and final playoff spot, facing Ottawa on Wednesday and New York on Saturday, April 25.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the resilience of the Boston Fleet, who were able to overcome an early two-goal deficit and force overtime against the league-leading Montreal Victoire. The strong defensive play of Keller and Winn, coupled with timely goals from Eldridge and Pejšová, kept the Fleet in the hunt for the top playoff seed.