The Frost probably should have seen this coming. Montreal stands first in the PWHL for one simple reason: one-goal games.

The Victoire won by one again Tuesday, defeating the Minnesota Frost 2-1 in a shootout. Montreal's leading scorer, Marie-Philip Poulin, won it, getting the puck past Frost goalie Maddie Rooney for the only goal of the shootout.

Montreal won by a goal or in overtime or via shootout for the ninth time in 20 games this season. Goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens had the most to do with that Tuesday, making 40 saves.

"When you put up 40 shots, you expect to get at least two goals," Frost coach Ken Klee said. "She obviously played fantastic. Maddie played well for us, too. We just got to find a way to bury pucks."

The teams proceeded through the first period scoreless, though the Frost had a strong edge in shots, a trend that continued. Rooney was asked to stop only four shots in the period, and Desbiens turned away 13.

The Frost's shot dominance lasted, but the scoreless tie didn't. Laura Stacey, on assists from Jennifer Gardiner and Erin Ambrose, scored 17 seconds into the second period, giving the Victoire a 1-0 lead. Stacey scored in her fourth game in a row, breaking her own team record.

Nearly 16 minutes of playing time later, with Kristin O'Neill off for cross-checking, Taylor Heise tied the score, assisted by Michela Cava and Britta Curl-Salemme. It was the third Minnesota power play of the period, after Montreal took three penalties in a span of 5:31.

Desbiens faced 13 more shots in the second period, Rooney 10. By the end of overtime, the Frost had outshot Montreal 41-22. Desbiens gave up two goals or fewer for the 13th game in a row. Rooney made 21 saves.

The shootout loss leaves the Frost in fourth place in the six-team league with 30 points, a point behind Boston and two points behind Toronto. Montreal is in first place at 41.

The Frost and Victoire had split their four meetings this season, every game in regulation, until Tuesday.