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PWHL: Marie-Philip Poulin hat trick leads Montreal to big win in New York

Posted on by Jared Book
Photo Credit: PWHL

There’s something to be said about the greatness of PWHL Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin that her going two games without scoring a goal was making the rounds as a storyline. On Saturday, she said that it was still early in the season, and on Wednesday night she had a hat trick in Montreal’s 5-2 win over New York at UBS Arena.

“[Poulin] is the heartbeat of our team,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. “Everything that we ask the group to do, she’s usually the first one to do it. She’s always competing with herself and her teammates with her details and habits and it was only a matter of time before she would start filling the net. The great thing about Poulin is that she loves to share the puck and we’ve asked her to shoot a bit more and she took that and brought more pucks to the net.”

The big win and highest PWHL team scoring output in a single game so far came despite Montreal missing two top-six forwards. Both Laura Stacey and Ann-Sophie Bettez missed the game for what the team called preventative measures. This was the second straight game that Bettez has missed. Montreal dressed 11 forwards and eight defenders.

It was a slow start for Montreal as New York scored the first goal. Jessie Eldridge took the puck and was left alone after a Montreal defender fell. She then fired a shot over the shoulder of Montreal goaltender Elaine Chuli to make it 1-0 6:08 into the game. Chuli was making her first start of the season, and made 30 saves in the win.

Montreal responded. Just 2:06 after Eldridge’s goal, Erin Ambrose made a beautiful feed to Poulin who made no mistake and fired the puck past Corinne Schroeder for her first of the season and of the night.

The first period ended 1-1 despite Montreal having two power plays, including 18 seconds of five-on-three.

Montreal finally converted on the power play midway through the second period. After a shot, there was a scramble in front of Schroeder for the rebound, and eventually it was put past the New York goaltender by Catherine Dubois.

Dubois, who was on Montreal’s reserve roster, was signed to a 10-day contract prior to the game due to the absences of Stacey and Bettez. She was a constant force throughout the game, going to the net and dangerous areas. She even got power play time and time on the top line with Poulin where her ability to win puck battles was key.

“She took her place. She was ready every time she went on the ice, she took a spot on the power play and that was a big goal for us,” said Poulin. “I’m really happy for her because she deserves it so much.”

Despite scoring the period’s only goal, Montreal was outshot 15-9 as New York had three power plays but Chuli kept the team in the lead.

One of the three penalties carried over into the third period and only 26 seconds into the final frame, Ella Shelton fired a wrist shot from the blue line that made its way through traffic and beat a screened Chuli to make it 2-2.

Despite New York tying the game, the goal seemed to fire Montreal up. They played their best hockey of the game, and their aggressiveness on the puck seemed to overwhelm New York at times. They also started to make more creative offensive plays and everything seemed to click for the first time. Montreal outshot New York 13-7 in the third.

“Our game is all about moving forward. We know that this league there’s going to be goals back and forth when we’re not paying attention to those details,” said Cheverie. “We knew we couldn’t let the score dictate our gameplan and kudos to our team for sticking with it. Usually when you give up a lead, everyone starts to panic and hold their sticks a little tighter, they start to try to do things themselves but from start to finish I felt like it was a full team game and so I’m proud of them for that.”

Two goals in 65 seconds would provide Montreal with the margin of victory. First, Kennedy Marchment took a pass from Gabrielle David and fired a rocket one-timer past Schroeder.

It was Marchment’s first goal of the season, and the first points for David and Lefort on the play.

Shortly after, Poulin and Maureen Murphy entered the zone on a two-on-one. They made several passes in close and finally it was Poulin who scored her second goal of the game.

With around 2:30 remaining, New York pulled their goaltender to try and generate offence, but it was Poulin who scored into the empty net to complete her hat trick. It was the second hat trick in league history after Grace Zumwinkle scored one against Montreal last Saturday in Minnesota.

Montreal finished their three-game road trip with five of a possible nine points. In the PWHL, regulation wins are worth three points, overtime/shootout wins two, losses in extra time are worth one, and regulation losses zero. Montreal ended the trip with one regulation win, one overtime win, and a regulation loss. They currently sit in second place in the league.

“Twenty-four games goes quickly,” said Poulin about whether the team is looking at the standings three games in. “We’re taking it one game at a time but we’re definitely happy to come back from the road 2-1.”

They now prepare for their first home game of the season, set for a sold out Verdun Auditorium against Boston and their captain Hilary Knight.

“It’s very exciting for us,” said Poulin. “To be able to be in Montreal, play our first game in front of our fans, our family and friends, it’s been a long time coming. I cannot wait and it’s going to be very exciting.”

Knight will be playing her first league game in the city since she played for Montreal. Due a postponed game earlier in the week, Boston has only played one game this season, losing at home against Minnesota.

Saturday’s home opener starts a three-game homestand for Montreal with games Tuesday at Place Bell against New York and February 20 against Toronto at the Verdun Auditorium.

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