PWHL: O’Neill scores, but Montreal falls to Toronto… again

Kristin O’Neill scored her first goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Montreal fell to Toronto 2-1 n Sunday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

The loss is Montreal’s third straight in regulation, and they have lost all four matchups against Toronto this season. They are now in third place in the PWHL, three points behind both Toronto and Minnesota.

Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin missed her second straight game and veteran forward Ann-Sophie Bettez also missed the game. Mikyla Grant-Mentis made her Montreal debut and played 11:15 on a line with Sarah Lefort and Gabrielle David.

Toronto opened the scoring 7:11 into the first period when Hannah Miller fired a shot past Ann-Renée Desbiens from the circle. It was Miller’s sixth goal of the season and third against Montreal.

Montreal tied it up four minutes later when O’Neill pounced on a chip of the wall by Claire Dalton, broke into the zone and fired a perfect wrist shot past Kristen Campbell.

Quel beau tir de K.O

Dangle, snipe, celly presented by K.O pic.twitter.com/fGVLN8tuHE

— LPHF Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) March 17, 2024

It was the first goal Montreal scored on Campbell since the first meeting between the two teams, as Campbell had two straight shutouts against Montreal.

It was O’Neill’s first goal of the season at a time where she is asked to pivot the team’s top line without Poulin.

The game remained tied until the 6:11 mark of the second period. Right after Toronto killed a Montreal power play, Kali Flanagan fired a shot from a near-impossible angle that beat Desbiens and gave Toronto a 2-1 lead they would not give up.

Montreal pressured and created opportunities but only mustered 18 shots on Campbell, who made 17 saves in the win. It was Toronto’s 10th straight win and Campbell’s 11th straight win. Seven of Montreal’s shots came in the third period but they were still outshot in the frame. Desbiens made 24 saves in the loss.

Despite having a power play with 2:20 remaining and pulling Desbiens with just under one minute remaining, Montreal did not register a shot in the final 5:16 of the game.

“I liked our game today,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. “I am really happy for Kristin O’Neill and that she was able to score. She has been relentless all season. She is gritty and plays a good defensive game.”

Montreal has one last game before the break: March 24 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern in Minnesota in a big game for Montreal’s place in the standings. After that game, they will not play until the second half of April as the league pauses for the IIHF Women’s World Championships. Montreal will have five games remaining after the break, including April 20 at the Bell Centre against Toronto.

Monday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern is the PWHL’s Trade Deadline. Teams have until Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. Eastern to make any final signings or other moves before the league freezes all rosters.

Standings

Full Highlights