In a stunning upset for a series Boston sweeps Montreal.
Everyone knew Montreal would come out of the gate firing with their backs to the wall and they definitely did, outshooting Boston 18-4 in the first frame. Boston was rather flat footed and the period was capped off by a late goal by none other then Marie-Philip Poulin.
The second period was even on shots but still saw Montreal dictate play. each team had an unsuccessful power play in the period but Boston took one penalty too many late in the period as they allowed Maureen Murphy to set up in the slot where the tipped in a shot to give Montreal an insurance goal.
In the third period we saw yet another example of why a two goal lead is the worst lead in hockey. One might wonder if the poor line management by Montreal came back to bite them as Boston turned up their game. Early in the period Montreal committed a penalty and while Boston had Frankel on the bench for the extra attacker, it seemed like Rattray had put the puck in a pretty wide open net. Then upon review it turns out Jillian Dempsey saved the shot with her stick on the post. After yet another futile PP Boston got some real life when Sophie Shirley slipped one by Desbiens to breathe life into the building. The rest of the period saw some threats by Montreal but Boston controlled the run of play until a late penalty assessed to Alina Mueller seemed to derail them. It was not to be as Amanda Pelkey came off the bench on a change and read the Montreal defense perfectly. Pelkey received a pass and stayed onside by the smallest margin before scoring a jailbreak goal to tie the game and send the building into pandemonium. Each team would have a few chances but as this series deemed required this game also went to OT.
The overtime was a mere shadow of what we experienced on Saturday as a mere 62 seconds in Tapani put home a rebound off of a Mueller shot, the only two shots in the period.
Game Notes
- Once more Boston was outshot after having a disastrously slow first period but the margin was much more manageable with the final tally only being 34-24.
- Frankel essentially took the night off only making 32 saves compared to the crazy 109 she mad in the first games of the series.
- While Boston has played 12 periods, they did so in only three games. The other semifinal is already going to its fourth game. Boston will have to wait to see who they have to play in the Finals. We will either learn tonight or Friday.
- In the post game the Montreal coach described her team winning 10 of the 12 periods that were played in the series, Kessel responded politically and simply said we are heading to the championship.
- When asked after the game about her third period save the Montreal coach was very complimentary of Jillian Dempsey, joking she wasn’t sure why she didn’t let it in with her ties to Boston hockey, but the reiterated that that was part of why she was drafted, though no explanation for not playing her in Game 2.