(Laval) Susanna Tapani found the back of the net at 14:25 of the first overtime period and the Boston team snatched a 2-1 victory from the Montreal club in the first game of the semi-final series three of five of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, played in front of 9,135 spectators, Thursday evening, at Place Bell.
Tapani pounced on a loose puck, which had fallen behind goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens following a powerful shot from Megan Keller, and managed to push it into the back of the net.
Lexie Adzija scored the Boston club’s other goal at 1:48 of the third period.
View the meeting summary
Tapani’s goal crowned a comeback by the visitors and above all a high-quality performance from goalkeeper Aerin Frankel, who faced 54 shots, including 18 in the third period and 11 others in overtime.
Frankel only gave in to Kristin O’Neill, who opened the scoring on a power play early in the second period.
Desbiens had a much less busy evening than Frankel, when she only faced 26 shots.
Despite everything, she had to be vigilant in the third period, the one where the visitors were the most dashing during regulation time, and early in overtime.
Montreal had to do without the services of Sarah Lefort, suspended for one match for a hit against Jamie Lee Rattray last Saturday in Boston.
For her part, Mélodie Daoust signed a contract valid for the duration of the semi-final series. Furthermore, Daoust was also fined $250 for grabbing a rival’s facial protector during a skirmish in the same game against Boston.
The second game of this three-of-five series will be presented Saturday evening at Place Bell.
Montreal supremacy
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mikyla Grant-Mentis (18) beats goalie Aerin Frankel (31) during the second period.
We know that the Montreal team – like the five others in the league – played without a name during this first season of the LPHF. In the first period, Thursday evening, the Montreal team would have deserved to be nicknamed the Tornadoes, as they led their rivals into an irresistible whirlwind.
From the first moments of the first twenty and until the last seconds of the period, Kori Cheverie’s players increased the number of dangerous incursions into the Boston zone and threatening shots.
Twelve of these shots hit the target, but did not end up in the back of the net, but several others missed the target.
Meanwhile, Desbiens only had to block two completely harmless shots from Hilary Knight.
Montreal’s best opportunity in the first period came with about 90 seconds left. However, Laura Stacey had a goal stolen by Frankel’s right pad on a one-timer from point-blank range, after a masterful feint by Marie-Philip Poulin at the expense of Kelly Babstock.
The Montrealers did not have to wait much longer before opening the scoring.
Just 67 seconds into the second period, during a power play that began at the end of the first period, O’Neill scored the first goal in Montreal team history in playoff games.
O’Neill capitalized on the return of a powerful one-timer from Stacey, which Frankel had blocked with her right shoulder but was unable to control. The puck fell behind Frankel and O’Neill was able to push it into the net even though it was pushed around by defender Emily Brown.
It was the start of another period dominated by the Montreal team. But not as clearly as during the first 20 minutes of the match, while Boston began to show its teeth in the second half of the engagement, particularly.
This renewed energy, combined with all the missed chances by Montreal in the first 40 minutes, allowed Boston to get back into the game when Adzija deflected a Sophie Shirley shot at 1:48.
Despite a significant gap in shots on goal in the third period, again in favor of Montreal, Boston launched several attacks which sowed concern among Montreal fans.
The latter were able to relax a little while waiting for the start of the first overtime period, which would turn out in favor of the Boston club.