The Montréal Victoire are confident Ann-Renee Desbiens will return to action in the near future.
Whether that's soon enough to suit up between the pipes for Canada at the women's world hockey championship still needs to be determined.
"It's the type of injury that needs day-to-day and week-to-week monitoring," Victoire general manager Daniele Sauvageau said Monday at Verdun Auditorium in Quebec. "A lot of things can improve."
Canada's No. 1 netminder was named to the national team roster on March 21 despite sustaining a lower-body injury March 18 against the Boston Fleet in Professional Women's Hockey League action.
The Victoire retroactively placed Desbiens on long-term injured reserve, keeping her out for a minimum of 21 days from March 18.
The 30-year-old from Clermont, Que., however, skated in full gear for about half an hour before the Victoire practised Monday. It was her third time on the ice since the injury.
"To see her leave the ice with help from two teammates, you never want to see that," said Marie-Philip Poulin, captain of the Victoire and Canada. "She looked like she was in a lot of pain. Really happy to see the recovery is going quicker than we thought it would."
WATCH | Desbiens helped off ice after suffering injury:
Montreal Victoire goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens leaves the game after falling awkwardly during the second period. Desbiens leads the PWHL in wins, goals against average and save percentage.Sauvageau said there's still time to determine Desbiens's availability before Canada opens defence of its world title April 10 versus Finland in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
All signs point to Desbiens joining Montreal teammates Poulin, Laura Stacey, Jennifer Gardiner, Kristin O'Neill and Erin Ambrose on a flight to Czechia on Wednesday or Thursday for Canada's pre-camp.
"It's progressing well, so there's nothing that says she won't be able to keep progressing while participating in Canada's camp," Sauvageau said. "We'll see once we're at that date [April 10] whether she's ready to be a full participant in the world championships."
Sauvageau also said medical teams from the Victoire, PWHL and Hockey Canada would work together with Desbiens to reach a decision.
"Everybody wants the player to be healthy," she said. "No one wants to take risks in any of those federations. If she does go, obviously I trust that she's going to be well-treated."
Canada is already down regular netminder Emerance Maschmeyer, who was placed on LTIR by the Ottawa Charge after she sustained a lower-body injury in a March 11 game.
Toronto Sceptres goalie Kristen Campbell and 21-year-old Eve Gascon were the other goalies named to Canada's roster.
Desbiens backstopped Canada to gold at the 2022 Olympics and three world championships, including last year's triumph over the Americans in Utica, N.Y.
This season, she leads the PWHL in wins (13), save percentage (.932) and goals-against average (1.85).
"She's been in great spirits, honestly, since [the injury]," Ambrose said. "It's nice to have that as a little bit of a relief. She's the best goalie in the world, so obviously here in Montreal, world championships, we want her there."
The Victoire signed goaltender Tricia Deguire to a standard player agreement while Desbiens remains out.
League-leading Montreal (11-6-3-6) clinched a playoff spot with last week's 4-1 win over the Minnesota Frost and has four games remaining in the regular season.
Elaine Chuli is expected to take the net when the Victoire play their final game before the three-week international break Tuesday against the New York Sirens at Place Bell in Laval, Que.
The Sirens (6-4-4-12) sit last in the six-team PWHL and are fighting to stay in the playoffs race.
Despite New York's subpar record, Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie doesn't expect Tuesday night's game to be a walk in the park. The Sirens are led by star forward Sarah Fillier, who ranks second in league scoring with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists).
"They're a dangerous team, they've got a lot of firepower on the other side," Cheverie said. "A team that you know is trying to still make playoffs, but also probably is playing with a little less pressure on their shoulders, it's a dangerous team to play against."