It wasn’t pretty but it is a win for Boston and defeat for Montreal.
This game was a thriller from the get go, lots of great goalie play, then an exciting middle Fram before another great goalie duel in the third and a very controversial, but well officiated overtime period.
First Period
Both goalies were playing at the top of there games as the frame was scoreless but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t lots of action. Each team had opportunities but when the best goalies in the world face off you might have a hard time finishing.
Second Period
The second period was not a great start for Boston as Montreal scored quickly with an Erin Ambrose goal that tipped off of a Boston skate and went in to give the home team a lead. Shortly after that Laura Stacey would double the lead on a shot from the middle.
It was looking bad for Boston as Emily Brown was called for roughing in the fourth minute of the middle period but after that it was all Boston. Taylor Girard would score only the second Jailbreak Goal in League history as a new rule implemented by the PWHL is that a shorthanded goal ends a power play.
Only 91 seconds later Boston would grind out a tying gaol off of Hannah Brandt’s stick.
Third Period
The third period returned to a goalie fight as both Frankel and Desbiens settled back down and held their opponents scoreless. Though Montreal held a distinct shot advantage in the frame 11-3.
Overtime
Let’s get the elephant room out of the way immediately. Yes Boston University’s Marie-Philip Pauli does put a puck behind Northeastern’s Aerin Frankel but no it was not free of interference from Laura Stacey. When watching the clip pay attention to the stick after the initial contact as Stacey held the stick down interfering with Frankel’s glove.
After that though Boston was able to take care of business as the long time veteran Gigi Marvin was able to set up Amanda Pelkey to bury one to take the second point for Boston.
Game Notes
- Boston needs to get it going more in the first period. This time Frankel was able to keep the door shut but they are outplayed for large stretches and were badly out shot.
- The jailbreak was exciting and quite possibly a major momentum shift as Boston would go on to score three (mostly) unanswered goals.
- Three is the magic number. The winner in every PWHL game so far has scored 3 goals and the lose has never scored more then 2.
- Boston will be on the road again on Wednesday as they travel back north, this time to Toronto.