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Montreal Falls to Boston in PWHL Playoffs Opener
The Montreal team displayed a dominant performance throughout the game, poised to secure a victory in the Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs opener. Unfortunately, Boston’s netminder, Aerin Frankel, had different intentions. Frankel set a new PWHL record with an impressive 53 saves during the game, leading her team to a 2-1 triumph over Montreal in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series.
Boston’s head coach, Courtney Kessel, praised Frankel’s outstanding performance by describing it as “tremendous.” Despite Montreal’s relentless offensive attempts, Frankel’s remarkable saves, including a crucial one in overtime against Montreal’s Mélodie Daoust, kept Boston in the game.
A Historic Overtime Goal
The decisive moment of the game came in overtime when Boston’s Susanna Tapani seized an opportunity and scored the first overtime goal in PWHL playoff history. Pouncing on a loose puck near the blue paint, Tapani secured a dramatic victory for Boston at 14:25 of the extra period.
Post-Game Reflections
Despite the loss, Montreal’s team captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, expressed confidence in her team’s ability to bounce back for the rest of the series. The solid performance showcased by Montreal, finishing second in the PWHL regular season, hints at a promising outlook for the upcoming games.
In response to the defeat, Montreal’s head coach, Kori Cheverie, remained optimistic, emphasizing the need to capitalize on scoring opportunities and building momentum for the future matches. The spirited resilience shown by the Montreal team, coupled with enthusiastic fan support at Place Bell, sets the stage for an exciting series ahead.
Looking Ahead
With Game 2 scheduled to take place in Laval, Montreal is determined to level the playing field against Boston. As the playoff series unfolds, both teams are gearing up for fierce competition, vying for a chance to face either Toronto or Minnesota in the grand final for the Walter Cup.
Despite the challenges faced in Game 1, Montreal’s relentless power play and offensive strategies provide a solid foundation for the team to regroup and strategize for a more compelling performance in the subsequent games.
As the PWHL playoffs continue, the Montreal team remains focused on their ultimate goal – emerging victorious in a highly competitive league where every match counts.
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