The Montreal Victoire broke the script selecting the back-to-back Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost as their opening round opponent for the 2026 PWHL playoffs, meaning the Boston Fleet will take on the Ottawa Charge.
Respect to the Victoire for choosing to unambiguously throw the gauntlet:
Minnesota enter as the back-to-back Walter Cup champions and were the third place team in the regular season. Montreal chose Minnesota rather than selecting fourth place Ottawa who needed a point on the final night of the 2025-26 regular season to qualify for the postseason at all.
This could go two ways.
They lose the first round, or they tire themselves out right from the beginning, having more difficulty with the next team. Especially with Poulin who might now have fully recovered from her injury.
She may have. It’s rather embarrassing she was able to get minutes to build her fitness on decision day for Seattle. I like the Victoire to win the Walter Cup this year.