PWHL Boston Returns to Tsgonas Center to face PWHL Montreal

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On Sunday afternoon, the PWHL Boston team (4-3-0) returned to Tsongas Center to face off with PWHL Montreal (6-1-2), before a crowd of 4,210. The PWHL Boston team was looking for their second win on home ice. Starting goalies for the game were, Elaine Chulie for PWHL Montreal and Aerin Frankel (2-1-0, 1.91 GAA, 925%) for PWHL Boston.

The first period was a fast skating twenty minutes that saw only one penalty called. Hannah Brandt For PWHL Boston went off for hooking at 9:27. Nothing came of the advantage for PWHL Montreal. Toward the end of the first, PWHL Montreal scored the game’s first goal, as Erin Ambrose scored her second goal of the season at 15:59. The shot came from the high slot on the right side, and was assisted by Marie-Phillip Poulin and Maureen Murphy. The rest of the period was quiet. Shots in the first were 9-4 in favor of PWHL Montreal.

The second period was more of the same, good skating and some pretty good chances. PWHL Boston had two early scoring chances, first Jamie Lee Rattray took the puck into the zone cut right to left fired a shot on goal that was stopped by Chulie. A Short time later Hillary Knight broke into the zone and put a shot on the net that Chulie got a piece of with her glove. Both teams had two power play opportunities that neither team did much with. Each team possessed power plays that were struggling. PWHL Boston came into the game with a 14.3% PP. PWHL Montreal was at the bottom of the league with 4.0%. After two periods they were 1-for-27. PWHL Montreal ended the second period with an 11-8 shots advantage. Through two periods the shots were 16-16.

At the 4:12 mark of the third period, PWHL Boston tied the game at 1-1. Sophie Shirley scored her first of the season off a right-corner pass from Hannah Brandt. PWHL Boston moved the puck into the PWHL Montreal zone, Brandt was able to move the puck along the boards, and from the corner found Shirley who came barreling down the slot. She took the pass and made no mistake, as she buried into the back of the net for the game-tying goal.

PWHL Boston received some life from that goal and was on the attack getting some odd-person chances through the neutral zone and into the PWHL Montreal end of the ice. Brandt had a chance to give PWHL Boston the lead with under seven minutes left But her wrist shot from the slot area was turned aside by the glove of Chulie. PWHL Montreal had a good scoring chance, as Laura Stacey brought the puck into the attacking zone. She used her body to shield off the defender and cross from left to right across the crease, only to be stopped by Frankel. Despite the scoring opportunity, neither team could come up with the game-winner in regulation. PWHL Montreal had an 11-8 shots advantage in the period, and a 27-24 advantage through three periods.

In the OT, the action was fast and furious. The best chance in the first three minutes came from PWHL Boston Shiann Darkangelo who off a 2-on-1 was stopped at the net by Chulie. Moments later, PWHL Montreal put home the game-winning goal. Laura Stacey put home her fifth of the year, from Erin Ambrose’s two-point game a goal and assist and Marie-Philip Poulin at 2:36. For Poulin the assist was her second point of the game. PWHL Boston is now 1-3-0 on home ice. PWHL Montreal is now 4-1-0-0 on the road.

PWHL Montreal Goaltender Elaine Chulie who was the game’s second star made 26 saves in the game. PWHL Boston goalkeeper Aerin Frankel had 28 saves.

After the game, PWHL Boston head coach Courtney Kessel was “disappointed.” She thought both teams played great hockey. However, she is still “trying to find ways to get Hillary Knight going.” PWHL Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie was happy with the way her team played. She thought heading into this contest “We needed to clean up some things in the defensive zone.” She was asked about her goaltender Elaine Chulie her response was “I feel very confident in our goaltending.”