Toronto 3 — Montreal 2 (P) | A defeat and a victory for Montrealers

If Toronto won the match on Saturday at the Bell Centre, Montreal won something else…

It is not the 3-2 defeat in overtime that we will remember from this meeting.

The Montrealers broke the world attendance record for a women’s hockey match with 21,105 spectators. Attendance record which, by the way, had belonged to… the Toronto team since February 16.

“When I saw the record on the giant screen, I jumped in the air. I was so excited,” said Marie-Philip Poulin after the match.

View the meeting summary

An incomparable atmosphere inhabited the Bell Center for the two hours and thirty minutes that the meeting lasted. To be honest, the screams hit the eardrums. “At times my ears hurt. I’ve never experienced that on a bench,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie.

During the warm-up, signs could be seen everywhere in the stands. “We’re finally giving these women what they deserve,” said one of them, no doubt summarizing what most of the several thousand people present were thinking.

Anyone in the amphitheater felt chills for the first time when the team took to the ice. And a second time during the noisy ovation to Marie-Philip Poulin. The captain seemed emotional on the giant screen; she was seen letting out a sigh to control her emotions.

(Re)read “LPHF at the Bell Center “It’s the fight of a lifetime””

Let’s be clear: this is far from the first time that Poulin has received a standing ovation. But this time, she admitted with a smile, it “got into her”. “I was like, is this really happening? I found that the cameras stayed on me a little too long! »

“This is the recognition that this girl deserves,” said Erin Ambrose, who was eager to praise her captain. “He is the most incredible human being I have ever met. She’s the best leader. […] If there was a moment when I wanted to cry with joy on that blue line, it was in that moment, because I had the chance to be by his side, not only as a teammate , but as a friend. »

In fact, the ovation was such that it did not only affect the main player or her teammates. She also affected her opponents.

“I was so happy for her,” said Lauriane Rougeau, Poulin’s former teammate and Toronto defender. She deserves all this. I grew up with her, watched her achieve success at every level. […] My eyes were wet on the bench. I thought : You go, girl, it’s your house, take it. »

Next to Rougeau, Kristin Campbell and Sarah Nurse were both nodding in agreement.

The match and the positive

Despite all these unspeakable emotions, the Montrealers delivered a solid 60-minute performance, even though they are used to experiencing a slump in the second period.

“There are so many positives to take away from this match,” Cheverie said. We really think it was different from all the times we played against Toronto. […] I think it was another step to get us ready for the playoffs. »

The Montrealers lacked opportunism in the first period, so much so that the visitors were the first to find the back of the net. Blayre Turnbull shot from the point and the puck deflected before sliding behind Ann-Renée Desbiens.

The dial showed 19 seconds to go when Sarah Bujold finally brought the crowd to its feet; a flawless feint followed by a major league shot. Kristen Campbell, the hitherto impeccable Toronto goalkeeper, saw nothing.

The same scenario occurred in the second third. Toronto scored early in the period, and Montreal waited until the last minute to equalize. This time, it was Erin Ambrose who scored with a point shot on the power play.

The third period was captivating. The supporters almost never stopped shouting. The pleasure was prolonged, but not for long… In the extra period, Sarah Nurse only took 13 seconds to find the back of the net with a precise wrist shot from the top of the left circle.

Montreal, which put 39 shots on net in the game, therefore lost for the fifth time in five clashes against Toronto this season.

“To be honest, it’s almost a surprise to me because I don’t think they’re easy to beat at all,” Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said. “I think it’s not difficult to find motivation when you play against Poulin game after game, or when you have the chance to score against Desbiens. »

With this victory, the Torontonians officially secured their place in the playoffs. If they finish first in the circuit, they will be able to choose which, from the third place or fourth place team, they will face in the first round of the playoffs.

“If I had to choose right now, I wouldn’t choose [Montréal]but we will discuss it,” said Ryan.

Three matches

Montreal now ranks second in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, tied with Minnesota at 35 points. He only has three games left this season.

The next one takes place next Wednesday, at the Verdun Auditorium. Before thinking about it, the players will undoubtedly take the time to realize what they experienced: a moment “bigger than[elles] “, as Poulin said, and which will serve as “motivation” for the home stretch of this historic season in many ways.