The Montreal team had an uneven performance. She lost in a fourth consecutive match on Sunday in Minnesota. The final score: 3-2 in a shootout. Except, as Maureen Murphy said after the duel, “it could easily have been 6-2”.
Murphy then highlighted the work of his goalkeeper, Elaine Chuli, in the second period, a moment in the match where Montreal experienced difficult moments. Chuli received 36 shots in the loss. The Montrealers, for their part, shot 23 times on net.
“I think we need to do a better job of blocking shots, and I include myself in that. Chuli really kept us in the game,” noted Murphy, author of a goal and an assist in the defeat, by videoconference after the game.
The crux of the problem is that Montreal played a roller coaster game. Kori Cheverie’s squad started the game with confidence, scoring two goals in six minutes, courtesy of Kati Tabin and Murphy.
This is where the adjective “uneven” comes into play.
Midway through the period, Kristin O’Neill was sent off for tripping. If the Minnesota troops did not score during this numerical advantage, they took the opportunity to take control of the game. Montreal did not have another shot on goal in the period.
Minnesota maintained the pace in the second period, scoring two goals in 24 seconds to tie the score. Both goals were scored on point shots. Minnesota scored in the same way a third time in the middle of the period, before the goal was disallowed due to a too high deflection.
In the third period, the Montreal team appeared revitalized. In overtime, she was dominant, without managing to score.
“I liked the killer instinct we had at the start of the game,” Cheverie said. I didn’t like our response afterwards. […] [En troisième période], we followed the game plan. We tend to get away from it when we have a few goals lead. »
Same observation from Murphy’s side: “I think what brought us success in the first period was keeping things simple, following the game plan. In the second half, we got away from that. We were playing longer shifts, we weren’t taking care of the puck. »
Before March 8, Montreal had 10 victories in 15 games. The team had some up-and-down performances, but managed to get by most of the time. For several matches, she has had to deal with the absence of her best attacker, Marie-Philip Poulin, injured in her lower body.
It’s definitely an adjustment because she plays such a big role for us. But I think she would say she has confidence in us to get the job done.
Maureen Murphy
“The playoffs are coming and teams want to secure a playoff spot,” noted Gabrielle David. We were on top at one point. It’s going to be up to us to push and continue our work from the beginning of the year to come out strong if we make the playoffs. »
Fast
This meeting was Amanda Boulier’s first in the Montreal uniform. Acquired on Monday, the defender took no time to gain the trust of her coach; she spent 24 minutes on the ice with her partner, Mariah Keopple. It was also used in overtime.
Boulier brings obvious stability to the defense. After the match, Cheverie and David both used the same word to describe her: “fast.”
“I really liked his match today,” Cheverie said. We played him quite a bit. She makes quick decisions. She is quick to get the puck. There is a courage aspect to her game. I think she gives us an opportunity to slow down opposing attacks. »
“She’s very fast,” David said. She moves the puck quickly, so that helps us in transition. She knows how to put pucks on goal well. »
International break
With the Women’s World Championship taking place from April 9 to 20 in Utica, the Montreal team, like all the other teams in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, will not play matches for a month. Montreal must play its next duel on April 19, in Verdun.
“It’s not ideal, but I think it’ll be a good time for us to come together,” David said. We have to stay present physically and mentally, because after that, there are a few games left and it’s the series. We need to find a way to not relax too much. »
Montreal only has five games left to play before the end of this historic first season, one against each team. It currently occupies third place in the standings, five points behind Toronto and four behind Minnesota. Ottawa is four points behind Montreal. In other words, nothing is decided.
“As a team, collectively, we know that eventually it has to work, but I don’t think anyone is nervous about the way it’s going right now,” Murphy said.