Boston can’t shoot the puck and continues to wallow at the bottom of the standings.
The first was another penalty fest for the Fleet. They were the first to have a skater advantage but did nothing with the opportunity. Soon after Sophie Shirley took consecutive minors. Montreal was kept off the boards for those penalties with some terrific defense and great goaltending out of Emma Soderberg. The Fleet then did what no team ever wants, allowed a goal in the last minute of the period, when Montreal broke down the ice and slipped it past Soderberg.
The Fleet were able to even the score line when Megan Keller and Hannah Bilka setHilary Knight up for a beauty of a goal in the middle of the frame. The period would go down hill from there. In the late stages Montreal’s Catherine Duboois took her first penalty. A mere 30 seconds later a great defensive play lead to a breakaway that Kristin O’Neil was able to bury shorthanded, this was a jail break goal, any short handed goals will automatically end the penalty releasing the playing in the penalty box. A little over a minute later Montreal would add an insurance goal making the line 3-1. As the period drew to a close Dubois would take her second and final penalty as she took Keller to the ice with a hit to the head. The play was initially not called as anything but the referees conferred and eventually a major was called with Dubois shown the gate.
Boston would open the period with five minutes of extra skater time with the major called at the end of the previous period. They would get no shots until there was only 9 seconds remaining on the penalty. That would also be their only shot in the period until there was little over a minute remaining in the game. Boston pulled Soderberg early and had a power play with the extra attacker but still only mustered that second shot.
Highlights:
Game Notes
- This has been a regular feature in these recaps dating back to last season but the shots on goal continue to be an issue. When you are down by two goals in the final frame you need to take more then two shots, especially when you have a major penalty involved.
- While the penalty kill stood tall the power play found new lows. A major with only one shot and a short handed goal allowed have to be considered low marks. The team will have no time to resolve this as they continue on a brutal stretch of games.
- Soderberg got the start as Aerin Frankel got her first game of off the year, due to the density in the schedule. While she made some excellent saves she was not up to the task of carrying the Fleet who continue to be unable to score goals effectively.
- The road trip continues with four games remaining and two more games this week.
- Boston will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Minnesota.