Marie-Philip Poulin scored the game-winning goal with 6:14 remaining as Montreal defeated New York 3-2 on Tuesday night at Place Bell.
The official attendance was 6,334, making it the largest crowd to take in a professional women’s hockey regular season game in the Montreal area. The crowd erupted when Maureen Murphy created a turnover and fed Poulin at the side of the net. Murphy had two assists on the game, as she is settling into that top line with Poulin and Tereza Vanišova.
Capitaine Clutch! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/yOQ7hujyVY
— PWHL Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 17, 2024
“It was a great play by Vanišova and Murphy, they played unbelievable,” said Poulin. “Obviously we allowed that goal early in the third but we found a way and it was a great team win.”
Poulin was named the game’s first star and had her name chanted by the crowd. She seemed emotional when addressing the crowd.
“I don’t know if with age I’m becoming more emotional,” Poulin said. “On a Tuesday night, having 6,000 fans, with the weather outside it warms the heart. To see the people staying to the end encouraging us, we felt them the entire game whether it was for penalties, scoring chances, the goals, there was a ton of atmosphere in the stands. It gives us energy.”
There was some drama even before the game started. New York’s sticks were delayed at the airport and were unable to get them for the start of the game. The team’s equipment managers worked with Montreal companies to get them sticks to start the game. The team’s sticks arrived to start the second period.
Laura Stacey had Montreal’s best chances early on. She had a partial break breaking down the left wing that was stopped by New York goaltender Abbey Levy. Stacey also drew the first penalty of the game with 15:18 remaining in the period.
Montreal’s power play had some puck movement but was ultimately unable to really get a surefire chance. New York’s best scoring chance when Erin Ambrose’s pass was intercepted by Élizabeth Giguère. The New York forward’s shot was saved by Ann-Renée Desbiens.
Montreal opened the scoring on a play that was made by hard work down low by Jillian Dempsey. Dempsey won the puck battle behind the net and her centring pass went off the side of net to Gabrielle David who made no mistake.
Le premier but à Gabrielle David! Quel beau jeu!
— PWHL Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 17, 2024
David's first goal! What a beauty! pic.twitter.com/firmNNoRoR
David, the Drummondville native who was a healthy scratch in the team’s home opener, scored her first professional goal.
“It was sad [to not play the home opener] but I have to move on and think of other things,” David said. “I have to work for the team, and I played for the city on the front of the jersey.”
“That’s what you want as a response from a player,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. “Gab is a great player and for her to score tonight, just so happy for her. She could have went in the other direction and she chose to come out with that type of intensity and grit.”
The next shift Maureen Murphy fed Leah Lum at the point and her wrist shot went through a bunch of traffic and Levy to make it 2-0 Montreal. After scoring two goals in 29 seconds in the home opener, Montreal scored twice in 17 seconds on Tuesday night.
Leah Lum compte son premier but de la saison! 🙌
— PWHL Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 17, 2024
Lum's first goal of the season! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CaBeo5X81T
It was Lum’s first goal of the season.
In the first half of the second period, Abby Roque and Marie-Philip Poulin got into it directly after a faceoff. The offsetting penalties would make it four-on-four. That ignited the game that was already getting chippy.
“It’s part of the game,” Poulin said. “She’s intense, she’s physical, so we got in a couple of words and went at it a little.”
Shortly after the offsetting penalties, Montreal’s Tereza Vanišova ran into New York’s goaltender Levy and was called for goaltender interference, giving New York 52 seconds of a four-on-three power play.
Three seconds after the first penalty expired, Jaime Bourbonnais fired a shot through traffic that beat Desbiens to make it 2-1.
With around five minutes remaining, Montreal had their best scoring chances of the period first Poulin fed Murphy in the slot, but her saved with Levy. Shortly after, Stacey broke in on another individual effort but was stopped by Levy. The loose puck was alive in the crease for a bit, but was eventually snapped up.
Eleven seconds into the third period, Jessie Eldridge fired a shot off an offensive faceoff that handcuffed Desbiens and tied the game at 2-2.
“It was a major focus point for us to control our emotions,” said Cheverie. “After we had the 2-0 lead, luckily we went into an intermission but it may not have helped us all that much. Our game gets pretty amped up to score so that’s something we’re still working on early in the season. Lots of character to stick with it when New York tends to come back and they had a pretty emotional win against Minnesota.”
Just over three minutes in, Vanišova broke in right wing and was held, sending Montreal to the power play. Montreal would get good puck movement on the power play, but no real grade-A scoring chances. Montreal would get a better opportunity with 23 seconds of five-on-three time, but never really threatened with the two-player advantage.
The two teams traded chances in the third with Desbiens and Levy stepping up and making the saves. Desbiens made 30 saves, while Levy finished with 27.
With 6:14 remaining, Murphy found Poulin at the side of the net for the game-winning goal.
The final three minutes were hectic. Jade Downie-Landry had a prime opportunity with a one-timer in the slot, followed quickly by a Catherine Daoust elbowing penalty with 2:23 remaining. On the power play, Poulin and Ambrose made huge shot blocks ensuring the puck never got to Desbiens. What would get to Desbiens was Emma Woods, who with 1:05 remaining was penalized for goaltender interference.
New York would have zone time, but never really threatened, despite having a six-on-four for 1:18 and then with the late penalty, pulling the goalie only gave them a five-on-five for the last 23 seconds.
After the win, there was some confusion as New York went right to the locker room instead of shaking hands, which has been the norm for PWHL games. New York head coach Howie Draper said that they received a directive from the league not to shake hands, but Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie said their hockey operations staff never received that directive.
Montreal did take it all in, which some dancing with over 6,000 people cheering in the stands.
Next up for Montreal is a home game at the Verdun Auditorium on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. when they will face Toronto for the first time.
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