After Montreal’s 4-3 shootout loss to Toronto on Saturday night at the Verdun Auditorium, Erin Ambrose was asked whether anything surprised her anymore about Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored two goals in regulation including the tying goal with 17.3 seconds remaining.
“Everything but at the same time nothing,” Ambrose said. “I honestly just shook my head when she scored that game-tying goal. The girl is just built different beyond belief. She is the best captain, the best leader I’ve ever had. Marie-Philip Poulin is I would say the greatest female hockey player to ever play this game.”
Poulin’s latest exploit in clutch time saw her take the puck at the near end at centre ice, go to the far end, skate through almost every defender before putting the puck behind Kristen Campbell. It took about eight seconds from start to finish.
Ça mérite d’être vu malgré la marque finale!
— PWHL Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 21, 2024
Worth seeing this beauty despite the final score! pic.twitter.com/TlUHR9Vrgl
As the game went to the PWHL’s first-ever shootout, she would be called on to shoot in four of the six rounds, scoring once. When asked about the decision, Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie said, simply “why not.”
The PWHL’s shootout is five rounds but repeat shooters are allowed at any point should the team choose to do so.
“She’s the best player in the world,” Cheverie said. “When a player like [Poulin] has the game that she had, it’s a nice luxury when she’s feeling good. Obviously she had a great game and so why not go with the hot hand.”
In the end, it wasn’t Poulin, but her long-time friend and teammate turned opponent who made the ultimate difference. Lauriane Rougeau, playing her first professional game in Montreal as a visiting player, scored in the sixth round of the shootout to end the game. Hannah Miller scored the other shootout goal for Toronto.
Rougeau and Poulin played together in CEGEP, and even played in the CWHL as teenagers, winning the 2009 Clarkson Cup together. When Poulin first came to Montreal to play hockey and learn English from Beauceville, she stayed in Lauriane’s bedroom in the Montreal area.
“The moment was great for me to come back home, I’ve played my entire career in Montreal, it was a sweet moment for sure,” Rougeau said. “Really going to cherish this moment for a while but very happy for the team win.”
Rougeau admitted being a little nervous when Toronto head coach Troy Ryan picked her until Campbell stopped Laura Stacey in round six. Ryan says a mix of the defensive defender’s shootout performance in practice and homecoming moment played into the decision.
Poulin’s exploits to send the game to overtime capped a wild final 1:28 of regulation. After Maggie Connors was taken down in the offensive zone, there was a delayed penalty but Sarah Nurse picked up the loose puck and fired a pass to the slot for Natalie Spooner who got the goal past Desbiens. Spooner had seven shots on goal in the game, and had several chances.
Montreal opened the scoring in the first period when after Leah Lum’s shot was stopped, Sarah Bujold buried the rebound. It was Bujold’s first goal of the season.
BUTjold 🚨
— PWHL Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 21, 2024
Elle compte son premier but de la saison!
She scores her first of the season!
TOR 0, MTL 1 pic.twitter.com/edY3UCTS53
Early in the second period, Toronto tied the game at 1-1. Rebecca Leslie made a perfect pass to a pinching Jocelyne Larocque who beat Desbiens in close.
Late in the first half of the middle period, Poulin scored her first of the game when she picked up the puck in the neutral zone and turned on the jets, giving herself a breakaway and beating Campbell.
À ne pas faire: Laisser Poulin seule en échappée
— PWHL Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) January 21, 2024
Do not: Leave Poulin alone in a breakaway pic.twitter.com/0Hkbnr4K8U
Montreal went into the third period with a 2-1 lead but early in the period Connors fired a shot from the high slot that beat Desbiens to make the score 2-2.
Both goaltenders had flashes of brilliance throughout the game, especially Desbiens. Desbiens made 36 saves in the shootout loss, a personal high this season. Toronto outshot Montreal 39-24.
“I’ll be honest, I’m really a bad loser,” Desbiens said. “I can’t appreciate a loss. I always want to win no matter what I do so yes, overall it went well but I’ll go back and review and work on things.”
Montreal’s power play went 0/4, including one in overtime, and with about seven minutes to go in the third period.
Montreal has scored on just one of their 20 opportunities so far this season and their 5% rate is worst in the league.
“It starts with me,” Ambrose said, taking responsibility. “When I can start to settle down and do what I do best out there, we’re going to have a lot better chances to bury. We’re starting to get some more reps, and it’s something that takes time. You can throw a power play together and get a goal here and there but that’s also not sustainable whereas I think we’re building from the ground up and I do think it’s something that will start to turn around eventually.”
Montreal finishes their homestand with one regulation win and two losses in overtime and a shootout. They will now go to Minnesota for their next game on Wednesday night before returning home for a matchup at Place Bell against Ottawa on Saturday.
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