2024-01-13 23:17:00
The Canadian Press – Michel Lamarche – The Montreal team of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) was unable to enjoy a victory on its return home, losing 3-2 in overtime against the The Boston team, Saturday afternoon at the Verdun Auditorium.
It was a goal from Amanda Pelkey scored at 2:17 of the additional period which gave the visitors the victory and sowed disappointment among the 3,245 spectators.
About two minutes earlier, the Kori Cheverie players thought they had deserved the victory when Marie-Philip Poulin recovered a loose puck at the mouth and placed it behind Aerin Frankel.
The sequence was, however, subject to video verification and the goal was disallowed due to contact with the Boston goalkeeper.
Erin Ambrose (1st) had the honor of scoring the first goal at home in Montreal, in the second period, followed shortly after by that of Laura Stacey (2nd).
On the Boston side, Taylor Girard, outnumbered, and Hannah Brandt, also deceived the vigilance of Ann-Renée Desbiens, both in the second period.
Of the two goalkeepers, Frankel was by far the most called upon as she faced 33 shots. Desbiens received 20 pucks.
The Montreal team will play its next match next Tuesday evening against the New York team at Place Bell, in Laval.
Tribute to pioneers
The official puck drop was preceded by an opening ceremony, orchestrated with sobriety, which allowed the Montreal organization to pay tribute to five pioneers of Quebec women’s hockey.
All dressed in the local jersey of the Montreal team, Danielle Goyette, France St-Louis, Kim St-Pierre and Caroline Ouellette first paraded on a red carpet to the center of the ice rink.
They were joined by the team’s general director, Danièle Sauvageau, accompanied by Ouellette’s two young daughters for the ceremonial throw-in.
Previously, each of the players on the Montreal team had received a warm welcome from the enthusiastic spectators, equipped with handkerchiefs that they waved above their heads and luminous bracelets.
The first to appear on the ice was Desbiens, who began a human circle around the central faceoff area.
Of course, we saved Marie-Philip Poulin, the team captain, for last and of course, she received the longest and warmest ovation.
Then, the Boston players jumped on the ice… to the boos of the crowd!
The tone was set.
Quick goals
After a scoreless first period in which it had the best scoring chances, the Montreal team started the middle period with a bang.
Barely 60 seconds had passed in the opening period when Kori Cheverie’s players led 2-0, thanks to Ambrose’s goal, 33 seconds in, and Stacey’s, 29 seconds later.
Spectators probably thought Montreal’s backfire was going to continue, especially after a roughing penalty was called against Emily Brown at 3:20.
But no, the explosion came from the other side.
Girard first cut the lead in half, and caused the end of Montreal’s numerical advantage — as stipulated by league regulations — by beating Desbiens on a breakaway at 4:15.
Then 91 seconds later, both clubs were back at square one following Brandt’s net.
With the score tied after 40 minutes, spectators were in for an entertaining game.
During the first 12 minutes, the Montreal team was the only one to get shots on the opposing net, but Frankel made the key saves.
Frankel was also solid during a minor penalty to Megan Keller with just over three minutes remaining, and her work helped Boston push the game into overtime.
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