Three-goal burst in second period spurs Victoire to 4-1 win over Torrent

LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — Three second-period goals spurred the Montreal Victoire to a 4-1 win over the Seattle Torrent on Tuesday night.

Montreal moved closer to clinching home-ice advantage in the first round of playoffs. The Victoire ranked first in the eight-team league with four games remaining in the regular season.

For Seattle, the loss moved the Torrent closer to becoming the first PWHL team eliminated from postseason contention.

Natalie Mlynkova, Laura Stacey, Skylar Irving and Shiann Darkangelo scored for the Victoire. Lina Ljungblom added two assists and Ann-Renee Desbiens made 24 saves in Montreal’s net at Place Bell.

Theresa Schafzahl scored and Hannah Murphy made 21 saves for the Torrent.

Seattle needs to win Wednesday in Ottawa to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Mlynkova opened the scoring at 2:28 of the second period when Alexandra Labelle kicked the puck toward her at the side of the net, and Mlynkova was able to put it past Murphy for her fifth of the season.

The Victoire doubled their lead 75 seconds later on the power play when Ljungblom fed Stacey on a two-on-one. Stacey tipped the puck past Murphy for her seventh goal of the season.

Seattle scored its lone goal at 9:53 of the second period. After Desbiens made the initial save on a Torrent two-on-one, Schafzahl tapped the loose puck in the crease by Desbiens for her fourth this season.

Montreal regained the two-goal advantage at 11:55 when Irving one-timed a backhand pass from Maggie Flaherty from behind the net.

Darkangelo added an empty-net goal.

Up next

Torrent: Visit the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday.

Victoire: Visit the Boston Fleet on Saturday.

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

Montreal Victoire's Skylar Irving (88) scores on Seattle Torrent goaltender Hannah Murphy (83) while Torrent's Mariah Keopple (20) defends, during the second period of a PWHL hockey gamen in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Alexandra Labelle (13) defends against Seattle Torrent's Anna Wilgren (5) during the second period of a PWHL hockey gamen in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Seattle Torrent goaltender Hannah Murphy (83) makes a save on Montreal Victoire's Maggie Flaherty (91) during third period PWHL hockey action in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Natalie Mlynkova (96) celebrates after scoring on Seattle Torrent goaltender Hannah Murphy (83), during the second period of a PWHL hockey gamen in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Seattle Torrent in a PWHL hockey game in Laval, Quebec, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jeremiah Fears set a Pelicans rookie record for points in a game with 40, and New Orleans snapped an eight-game losing streak on Tuesday night with a 156-137 victory over the Utah Jazz, who lost their 10th straight.

Fears, the seventh overall pick in the draft, shot 17 for 29 from the field and 1 for 7 from 3-point distance. Jordan Poole scored 34 points, including 22 in third quarter, when New Orleans set a franchise record for points in a period with 50. The Pelicans also set a franchise record for points in a game, despite playing without usual starters Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey.

While Murphy (right ankle) and Murray (bruised left hand) were injured, Williamson, Jones and Bey were all active, but were left on the bench for New Orleans' final home game of a second-straight non-playoff season.

Poole, who has spent more than half the season on the bench, shot 7 of 16 from 3-point range in his seventh start for New Orleans.

Rookie Micah Peavy scored a season-high 20 points, 2023 first-round draft choice Jordan Hawkins added 25 points for New Orleans and 2025 first-rounder Derek Queen (13th overall) had 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Pelicans finished with a franchise-record 90 points in the paint.

Veteran center Kevin Looney also started for just the seventh time this season and finished with 12 rebounds.

Kennedy Chandler scored 31 and Cody Williams scored 26 for Utah, which lost for the 14th time in 15 games. Brice Sensabaugh, who was averaging 25.7 points in his previous 10 games, finished with 18 points.

Bez Mbeng, a first-year player out of Yale playing in his 13th game, added a personal-best 26 points and John Konchar had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

New Orleans' previous record for points in a game by a rookie was 37, set by Marcus Thornton in 2010. The club's previous high-scoring game was 153 points, also against Utah in January 2024.

Jazz: Host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Pelicans: At the Boston Celtics on Friday.

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

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) blocks the shot of Utah Jazz guard Kennedy Chandler (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Utah Jazz guard Bez Mbeng (21) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Poole (3) of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Utah Jazz forward Blake Hinson (2) flips after shooting against New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Alexander during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Poole (3) blocks the shot of Utah Jazz guard Bez Mbeng (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)