Montreal wrapped up their inaugural PWHL season losing on the road to Boston who clinched a playoff spot in the process.
It was a season that went so fast but felt so long as 24 games in a span of five months that concluded on Saturday afternoon in a 4-3 loss for Montreal against Boston.
“We liked our response in the third period,” Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie told the media after the game. “I think that was a better representation of our team and there was a difference in mentality between the two teams and we were well aware of going into the game and you need to be patient and I liked how our team finished.”
Montreal got goals from Mikayla Grant Mentis who was able to score two goals on the powerplay which has been lethal in the past two games for Montreal while Marie Phillip Poulin added a third while Boston got goals from Hilary Knight, Alina Muller, Megan Keller, and Kaleigh Fratkin who scored the game-winner with 1:20 remaining in regulation.
“A lot of the scoring came from our top players tonight but we are going to need all 12 forwards and seven defensemen and all of our goaltending to win playoff series.”
Coming into the game Montreal had already secured the number two spot in the standings while Boston was playing for a spot in the post-season and they earned it with a regulation win.
“In a game like that, there is not much you can say or do and the players were saying the right thing in the locker room and on the bench and we made a couple of adjustments going into the third period and the players were playing with a one goal at a time mentality and I thought at least we were going into overtime or even finishing it off in regulation and I liked the momentum from the third entering the playoffs.”
Boston opened the scoring 16 minutes into the opening period when Hilary Knight found a loose rebound off a shot from newly signed Kelly Babstock and was able to beat Anne Renee Desbiens who made 31 saves in the loss.
“I think that game meant everything to Boston and for us already having clinched playoffs but still wanting to build our game and we didn’t have that urgency that our staff wanted us to have and unfortunately we can’t give that to them they need to own it and they need to take charge.”
Three minutes later Alina Muller doubled Boston’s lead as off a faceoff win from Thereza Schafzal she got a great feed cross-ice and buried the puck into the back of the net.
“We need to have a better start,” Melodie Daoust said post-game. “We made adjustments in the third period and we were a little more aggressive which caused more turnovers.”
Boston made it 3-0 seven minutes into the second period when Megan Keller got a quick pass from Hilary Knight and was able to beat Desbiens with a powerful shot.
That was the only goal of the second period and Montreal got on the board four minutes into the final frame on the powerplay when Mikayla Grant Mentis was able to poke a loose rebound past Aerin Frankel off a shot from the point from Amanda Boulier.
“It feels pretty good,” Grant Mentis said. “It’s really nice to finish the season with the two goals today.”
Eight minutes later once again on the powerplay Grant Mentis scored her second of the game when she was able to tip a puck that was shot from the point by Mariah Keopple to get Montreal within one.
“We knew as a group we needed to finish strong,” Daoust answered. “The third period was leading us to playoffs and how we play as a team and overall we kept the positivity in the room and we are focusing on that moving forward.”
With 3:09 remaining in regulation and with the goalie pulled Marie Philip Poulin tied the game as through a mad scramble in front of Frankel’s net she was able to get the puck and with a powerful backhand beat her top shelf.
“The last three games we played were against teams that were battling for a playoff spot,” Daoust responded. “They were big games for them and for us and we always discussed it pregame and even during the week at practice and Boston came out strong and executed well and we need to learn to respond earlier in the game.”
Kaleigh Fratkin sealed the win for the home team with 1:20 left on the clock in regulation as she entered the offensive zone and shot a puck at the net which went off a Montreal player and got redirected past Desbiens into the net for the game-winning goal.
“We are excited for the playoffs,” Daoust told the media. “Whoever we face we will have to be ready and come out strong and it’s one series at a time, one game at a time.”
With Toronto sealing first place in the league they will have the opportunity to pick their first-round opponent and Montreal will face either the number three or four team whom Toronto doesn’t pick.
Game one for Montreal is scheduled for May 9th at Bell Place in Laval where Montreal will play all of its home game during the playoffs.
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Featured Image ©️ Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL)
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