Montreal lost game one to Boston on Thursday night at Bell Place in Laval despite a dominant performance in their inaugural playoff series.
The home-ice advantage has shifted as Boston despite being dominated and outshot won 2-1 in overtime thanks to their Finnish superstar Susanna Tapani who scored the game-winner with 5:35 remaining in the first overtime period.
“We can’t dwell on it too much,” Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie said after the loss. “We know it’s going to be a long series and if we can continue to play a full game defensively and we had our opportunities to score and obviously we need to put a couple of those in and it’s disappointing but as a coach, I am happy with the effort.”
Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel stood on her head and kept her team in the game, making 53 saves in the win, earning her the second star.
“Stacey could have had at least four goals tonight and it’s those little details.”
Montreal came flying out of the gates in the first period and in the first 10 minutes of the opening frame was outshooting Boston 8-0 and looked hungry for the opening goal.
“Every decision I make impacts the team and we need to get those pucks in the net because for the rest of the series, it will be a grind.”
Kristen O’Neil opened the scoring 67 seconds into the second period as she was able to put a rebound into the back of the net off a one-timer from Laura Stacey.
“It’s a series and it’s long,” said Marie Phillip Poulin in the post-game press conference. “We need to do things right tomorrow to be ready for Saturday and it’s not over and we are going to get ready and we are going to battle and recover and get ready to play.”
Boston tied the game early in the third period as Lexie Adzija fired a wrist shot from the top of the circle that beat Anne Renee Desbiens far post to make it 1-1.
“We had 54 shots tonight and that’s the first time that’s happened this season and we need to continue to throw everything at the net and be able to screen the goaltender and we need to continue the momentum we had tonight.”
Tapani scored the game-winner in the extra frame with 5:35 remaining in overtime when she found a loose rebound and was able to tap the puck past Desbiens to stun the crowd at Bell Place and give her team the 1-0 series lead.
“We felt the crowd and the energy,” Poulin added. “We need to keep it going and they are a good team and obviously our first and second was very good and in overtime, it was a bit stressful but as a whole 60 60-plus minutes we are happy and we need to build on it.”
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Featured Image ©️ Lori Bolliger Photography
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