Boston wins marathon to take 2-0 series lead over Montreal

Over 111 minutes of gameplay led to Taylor Wenczowski’s game-winning goal, and a 2-0 series lead for PWHL Boston over PWHL Montreal.

The longest PWHL game was played at Place Bell on Saturday night. It took three overtimes and over 111 minutes of gameplay, Taylor Wenczowski sent PWHL Boston home with a 2-1 win and a 2-0 series lead over Montreal.

“It’s a lot of hockey. It’s a grind, especially with the physicality, but I’m super proud of the girls that we came out on top,” said Wenczowski.

A combined 109 shots were taken between the two teams. Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel has stopped 109 shots in two games.

“We signed her in free agency knowing her capabilities,” said Boston head coach Courtney Kessel, speaking on Frankel. “You talk about big players playing in big moments, and there she is.”

Montreal found themselves trailing eight minutes into the opening frame. Boston’s Amanda Pelkey shovelled the puck from behind Montreal’s goalline to the front of the net. Montreal forward Catherine Dubois took the feed off her skate and by Ann-Renée Desbiens.

The home team evened the score in the early moments of period two. After Kristin O’Neill drew a roughing penalty from Megan Keller, Montreal’s power play unit got to work. Parking in front of Boston’s net, O’Neill potted home a rebound following a Maureen Murphy canon. This marked the forward’s second post-season goal and her second power play goal.

Boston missed Megan Keller for a portion of the second period, as she left the bench to deal with an apparent injury. Unwilling to allow the pace of play to shift in their opponent’s favour, however, Boston ramped up the physicality to a level similar to game one.

Montreal swarmed the Boston goal in the third period. Aerin Frankel, fresh off a 53-save performance in game one, sprawled to stop multiple offensive chances around her crease.

With thirty seconds remaining, Montreal whacked at a puck under Frankel’s right pad. As the puck squeaked loose, it was eventually placed in the back of the net. While the fans roared, the referee waved off the goal. A review took place, and the call stood, signalling boos to rain down from the stands.

After two overtime periods that saw Lexie Adzija tossed from the game after hitting the head of Laura Stacey, a goal waved off, and multiple players surpassing 40 minutes of ice time played, a third overtime was needed to decide a winner.

When asked about recovery post-game, Stacey responded, “We got a game coming up, so we’re going to do whatever it takes to make [the body] feel better for then.”

With 8:16 remaining in triple-overtime, a rebound given up by Desbiens found the stick of Wenczowski. A few hacks later, Boston now holds a 2-0 series lead.

“I was so happy to end it and head back to Boston with two wins,” Wenczowski said.

Boston will host Montreal in game three on Tuesday, May 14. Puck-drop is set for 7 p.m.