Montreal’s Ann-Renee Desbiens earns first PWHL shutout in 2-0 victory over Ottawa

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Ann-Renee Desbiens posted the first shutout of her Professional Women’s Hockey League career in Montreal’s 2-0 win over Ottawa on Saturday.

Desbiens, who backstopped Canada to a gold medal in the world championship final earlier this month, stopped all 31 shots she faced.

“It’s not so much the shutout as much as the win,” said Desbiens. “If it helped us win, I’ll take it.”

Laura Stacey and Maureen Murphy scored for Montreal (10-3-5-5), which has a playoff spot secured in the PWHL’s inaugural season.

Ottawa’s Emerance Maschmeyer, the No. 2 goalie on the Canadian team, turned away 21 shots.

A playoff spot remained in Ottawa’s reach with two games remaining in its regular season.

The loss in front of an announced 8,452 at TD Place snapped a four-game win streak for Ottawa (8-1-6-7).

Trailing 1-0, Ottawa came out flying in the third looking for the equalizer.

They outshot Montreal 9-1 by the halfway mark of the period, but were unable to beat Desbiens.

Hayley Scamurra had two great chances in front and couldn’t beat a sprawled Desbiens.

“She’s a world class goalie and she kept her team in it today, particularly in the third,” Ottawa’s coach Carla MacLeod said. “We had our chances though and today the puck didn’t go in, but that’s part of our world and sometimes that happens in a game.”

Ottawa’s Savannah Harmon appeared to score with 5:58 remaining, but it was waived off upon review for goalie interference.

Desbiens felt she’d been bumped on the play. She asked Montreal head coach Korie Cheverie to call for a review.

“It was a bit of a mutual decision,” Desbiens said. “I looked at the play on the video screen and so did she and I think she was a little uncertain, but I was the one in the net. For me, it was evident.

“They’re always calls that you never know which way they’re going to go but today it made the difference in the game.”

Montreal made it 2-0 when Melodie Daoust fed Murphy in the slot with 1:48 remaining.

After a solid first period, Ottawa struggled in the second when it was outshot 10-2 and gave up the opening goal.

“The second period was pretty rough,” said Ottawa’s Daryl Watts. “We all know where we struggled and what we need to do better and how we need to play moving forward in the second to not lose all momentum.”

Montreal took a 1-0 lead off a turnover by Aneta Tejralova that led to Stacey stepping in for a one-timer from the slot at 3:13 for her 10th goal of the season.

The game was the first between the two teams since Ottawa acquired Czech forward Tereza Vanisova from Montreal in exchange for Amanda Boulier.

UP NEXT

Montreal visits Boston on May 4.

Ottawa visits New York on Tuesday.

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Montreal forward Kristin O'Neill tries to put the puck past Ottawa goalie Emerance Maschmeyer during the first period of a PWHL hockey game, Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa forward Brianne Jenner, left, pressures Montreal defence Amanda Boulier behind the net during the second period of a PWHL hockey game, Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal's Brigitte Laganiere, left, battles with Ottawa's Tereza Vanisova for control of the puck during the first period of a PWHL hockey game, Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa's forward Shiann Darkangelo tries to put the puck past Montreal goalie Ann-Reee Desbiens under pressure from forward Maureen Murphy during the third period of a PWHL hockey game, Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens celebrates with teammates Kati Tabin and forward Marie-Philip Poulin following a PWHL hockey game against Ottawa, Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens looks on as defender Erin Ambrose blocks a shot while Ottawa forward Gabbie Hughes tries to get her stick on the puck during the third period of a PWHL hockey game, Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Two more wins.

That's all that separates Manchester City from becoming English champion for an unprecedented fourth straight year.

The game is up, though, for Burnley, whose relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on Saturday with a game to spare.

On a significant day at both ends of the standings, City racked up another big victory by routing Fulham 4-0 to climb above Arsenal into a two-point lead. The top two each have two games left, and Arsenal faces Manchester United next on Sunday.

However Arsenal finishes the season, the title will be City's if Pep Guardiola's team beats both Tottenham away on Tuesday and West Ham at home in the final round on May 19.

“My players like to play with pressure. They are used to it,” said Guardiola, whose team has won five of the last six Premier Leagues. "The players enjoy this feeling.

“This season is the same — don’t think about anything other than the next game. Focus on winning the next game and then we will see what happens."

Josko Gvardiol scored twice for City to enhance his status as an unlikely goal-getter for Guardiola, with the left back making it five in his last seven games. Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez also netted at Craven Cottage as City extended its unbeaten run in all competitions to 33 matches.

No team in the 136-year history of English soccer has won the top division for four successive years. It's the latest record in touching distance of Guardiola's City, which has also reached the FA Cup final against Man United on May 25.

BURNLEY DOWN

Two of the three teams which came up to the Premier League for this season are sure to be heading back down to the Championship after one year.

It's not looking great for the third one, either.

Burnley needed to beat Tottenham to stand a chance of a second straight season in the league but lost 2-1 to join already-relegated Sheffield United in going down.

Luton lost at West Ham 3-1 to stand on the brink of being the third team relegated. It was given a reprieve, however, when fourth-from-last Nottingham Forest squandered a lead and lost at home to Chelsea 3-2.

Forest was three points above Luton and has a superior goal difference of 12. In the final round of games next weekend, Forest visits Burnley and Luton hosts Fulham — and there has to be a huge, and improbable, swing in goal difference for Luton to survive.

Last season, all three promoted teams staved off relegation for the first time since 2018.

SPURS RETAIN HOPE

Tottenham kept alive its Champions League qualification hopes with the come-from behind win over Burnley, which was secured by Micky van de Ven's 82nd minute goal.

Spurs' first goal was also scored by a defender — right back Pedro Porro — to begin the fightback.

Spurs trimmed the gap to fourth-placed Aston Villa to four points, with both teams having two games left. Villa can secure fourth spot and the final automatic Champions League spot from the Premier League by beating Liverpool on Monday.

OTHER RESULTS

In the fight to qualify for the minor European competitions, Newcastle stayed in sixth place — but dropped six points behind Tottenham — by drawing at home with Brighton 1-1. Newcastle is tied on points with Chelsea, with both teams three points ahead of eighth-placed Man United.

Brentford won at Bournemouth 2-1, Crystal Palace beat Wolverhampton 3-1, and Everton defeated Sheffield United 1-0 for a fifth straight home win.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, top right, attempts a shot on goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and FC Chelsea in Nottingham, England, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Chelsea's scorer Nicolas Jackson, left, and his teammate Reece James, right, celebrate their side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and FC Chelsea in Nottingham, England, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Newcastle United's Sean Longstaff scores his side's first goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion, at St. James' Park, in Newcastle, England, Saturday May 11, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

West Ham United's Tomas Soucek celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game with team-mates during the English Premier League soccer between West Ham United and Luton Town match at the London Stadium, London, Saturday May 11, 2024. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany reacts on the touchline, during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Newcastle United, at Turf Moor, in Burnley, England, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Steve Welsh/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Saturday May 11, 2024. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Manchester City at the Craven Cottage Stadium in London, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Manchester City's Phil Foden, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Manchester City at the Craven Cottage Stadium in London, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)