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With only seven games left to go in the season for the Montreal Victoire and the Boston Fleet, every point matters for a playoff push. Both teams sat at the top of the standings on March 18, but Boston wasn’t sitting as comfortably as Montreal, so the Fleet needed a win at home. Emma Söderberg earned her first win with the Fleet this season with a stellar save to end the shootout.
To start the game, neither team exhibited strong puck control: there were a few odd bounces, some icings and multiple missed passes. Just under four minutes in, Marie-Philip Poulin earned herself a few good looks at Söderberg, but the Fleet goaltender took both shots in stride, keeping the game scoreless. Despite some early dancing, it was clear that Montreal had better control of the game, creating strong offensive chances. The Fleet’s defense looked strong though, drawing a penalty on Mariah Keopple for interference. On a shorthanded chance off the change, Montreal was awarded another minor for too many players. Now on the four-on-three, the Fleet couldn’t seem to foster any real chances, and the only true look from Hilary Knight was unable to find the back of the net. Following a stellar glove save by Ann-Renée Desbiens, the Victorie were able to create a play up the ice from their own end, but the Boston defense passed the test and kept the game tied at zero. Amanda Boulier was sent to the box for a two-minute hooking penalty at 12:18, giving the Fleet yet another attempt at the advantage. Boston has been 17.74% effective on the power play, whereas Montreal was 80.82% for the kill. Montreal’s strength on the penalty kill, once again, bested Boston’s attempts on the power play. After the penalty had expired, the Fleet recorded a few shot attempts, including an aggressive stuff-in attempt that brought the crowd at Tsongas Center to life, but the home team could not convert. A shot from Laura Stacey almost trickled into the net, but Söderberg was able to spin around and swipe the puck to safety outside of the crease, stopping the play. Jill Saulnier was on track to net a great breakaway chance, but it was foiled by a neat little stick lift by Poulin. Montreal took another penalty at the end of the first, this time sending Catherine Dubois off for a trip. Some quick passes at the blue line and a tip in the slot by Knight opened the scoring of the game, ending the period with a one goal lead for Boston.
Courtesy of the PWHL
The second frame started with more of the same: some dancing around from both teams and a penalty on Boston’s Hannah Brandt for tripping. The Fleet were able to successfully kill off the penalty, but the Victoire kept the pressure on Söderberg. With Desbiens shoved into the net and without a stick, Boston was able to create a chance or two. To Desbiens’ relief, the Victoire’s defensive core defeated any chances. A long skate around the net for Lina Ljungblom of the Victoire gave Montreal their first goal of the night off Boulier, who was all alone in front of Söderberg. Desbiens continued to look like an elite goaltender, swallowing a shot from Sidney Morin from the point. The Fleet were able to feed off of the crowd’s energy to start the second half of the period, making crisp passes and focusing on going north, both charging the net and taking shots when they could. Montreal appeared to struggle a bit with the neutral zone during the second frame, both offensively and defensively. On a poor neutral zone defensive play by the Victoire, Susanna Tapani was able to walk through and wrist the puck into the net, giving Boston a one-goal lead. Desbiens went down awkwardly at 6:50, so Elaine Chuli would enter the net for Montreal for the remainder of the game. Maureen Murphy took a hard shot from the blue line and although she was unable to get the puck on net, she infused life back into the Victoire. With just under five minutes remaining in the period, Morin was sent off for interference, sending the Victoire to their second power play of the night. Montreal was 14.86% effective on the power play heading into the game and Boston was 87.5% effective on the kill. With just under a minute remaining on the power play, a shot from Anna Wilgren found the post and the back of the net, tying the game at two. Despite coming in cold, Chuli had some solid saves to end the period.
Heading into the final period tied at two, both teams looked eager to take the lead. Brandt started the chances in the third with a shot on Chuli. The first five minutes saw some back and forth, but the Fleet had the slight edge in puck control. Although, once Montreal captured the puck, they looked as if they were on the power play, partly due to a scrunched up defensive structure from Boston. With 11:50 remaining, Brandt was sent off for interference on Chuli, which resulted in a scrum in front of the net. Montreal focused in on a calm and calculated power play, but the team was unable to convert on the advantage, sending the Boston crowd into a frenzy. After some time in the Victoire zone, Emily Brown took a shot from the blue line, which was followed by a gorgeous pad save from Chuli. Emma Greco slid for a block in front of Söderberg, creating a great offensive push for the Fleet, but nothing came of the look. Still tied with under five minutes left in regulation, neither team was able to nurture any play for longer than a few seconds. After a shot on goal by Kristin O’Neill, Brown shoved O’Neill into the boards and both players went to the box with 1:04 remaining for roughing and slashing, respectively. Neither team was able to create a good look in the dwindling seconds of regulation.
Courtesy of the PWHL
The Victoire were able to start overtime with control of the puck, but easily gave it up upon entering the Boston zone. Boston dominated the rest of the overtime frame. Shay Maloney ripped a shot from the slot that Chuli easily saved. Quick changes were consistent with both teams. A scary chance in front for O’Neill was defused by Knight. Poulin backpassed, which resulted in a giveaway that Boston could not capitalize on. With both penalties over, the teams would play four-on-four until the whistle. Back to three-on-three play, the pace was fast and Boston aggressively entered the Victoire zone. A sure shot from Daniela Pejšová was collected by Chuli. Another shot by Morin went wide with just over a minute remaining. Cayla Barnes won a race for the puck into the Montreal zone, keeping the Fleet at bay. Söderberg made a great save with 36 seconds remaining, keeping the hope alive for the home team. Another great chance by Brandt was gloved down by Chuli. While Boston controlled most of the overtime period, they couldn’t get it done, so the game would head to a shootout.
In what ended up being a six-round shootout, both goaltenders tracked the puck excellently, only letting in a few shots. Notably, both captains scored during the shootout, but Söderberg was able to get a pad on the final attempt from Montreal, winning her first game of the season with the Fleet.
Both teams currently sit in a playoff spot headed down the stretch and will play again next week. Montreal will take on the Toronto Sceptres on March 23 and Boston will face Toronto on March 26.
Edited by Jenna Mandarano