Grace Zumpinkel sinks Montreal with her first hat-trick in the LPHF

Grace Zumpinkel gave Montreal its first win of the season after scoring all three of her team's goals in a 3-0 victory on Saturday.

It was the first hat-trick in LPHF history, achieved in front of a crowd of 13,316 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, a record for women's professional hockey.

Maddie Rooney earned the shutout by making 17 saves, compared to 11 for Ann-Renée Desbiens.

Minnesota, now 2-0, is the first team in the league to win at home.

Montreal will complete its sequence of three duels on the ice rinks on Wednesday in New York to kick off the campaign. The club will play its opening home match on January 13 at Verdun Hall against Boston.

Zombinkel first surprised the Montreal goalkeeper with a backhand shot from a tight angle that went under Depien's arm. This is his second goal in two games this young season.

Montreal had three chances to tie the game on the power play in the second half without success, after taking a 20-12 lead in shots on goal after 40 minutes.

Zombinkel came back to double the lead in the final period with a wrist shot from the blue line and Montreal's lack of discipline hampered its attempt to close the gap. Montreal added just three shots in the third period.

Today's star completed the score into an empty net.

Tuesday, Montreal (1-1) defeated Ottawa 3-2 at TD Place thanks to a goal from Quebec's Anne-Sophie Petitez in overtime. Laura Stacey and Claire Dalton were the other top scorers in the Montreal camp. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin had an assist.

Betz, the hero of this first meeting, was out today as a precaution.