PWHL Boston got goals, including the tiple overtime winner, from their fourth line players. It was their utilization of depth that paid off, while the fatigue of Montreal's top heavy approach may have sunk Montreal.
PWHL Boston got goals, including the tiple overtime winner, from their fourth line players. It was their utilization of depth that paid off, while the fatigue of Montreal's top heavy approach may have sunk Montreal.
PWHL Boston beat Montreal 2-1 in triple overtime to take a 2-0 series lead. When you look at the scoresheet, the goal scorers for Boston weren't Alina Muller or Hilary Knight, they weren't Hannah Brandt or Susanna Tapani. Boston's goal scorers were fourth line wingers Amanda Pelkey and Taylor Wenczkowski.
Wenczkowski played 16 regular season games this year without registering a point, and it was her first point and first goal of the season in triple overtime that lifted Boston to the win. Pelkey opened the scoring 6:48 into the first on an even strength shift. Pelkey only had one goal and two points in 23 games this season.
For Boston, it was a sign of Courtney Kessel's bench management. Boston saw all but two of their players hit double digits in ice time, and no player on their roster hit 50 minutes in time on ice.
Conversely, Montreal didn't utilize their bench for the second game in a row. In their game one loss to Boston, Montreal didn't allow their fourth line to step onto the ice...not for a single second. Jillian Dempsey, Leah Lum, and Alex Poznikoff spent the entire game on the bench, while defenders Madison Bizal and Brigitte Laganiere didn't manage to hit the five minute mark.
In game two, the two defenders, Bizal and Laganiere played under a minute, while Dempsey (1:37), Lum (4:15), Catherine Daoust (5:56), and Catherine Dubois (9:34) all saw limited ice. Instead, Montreal ran five players into the ice. Erin Ambrose played a remarkable 61:33 of ice, more than a full game in the game. She was followed by Kati Tabin (56:49), Kristin O'Neill (52:44), Laura Stacey (52:30), and Marie-Philip Poulin (50:33) who all played over 50 minutes. Montreal's bench is watching, while Boston's bench is scoring.
Now, not only is Boston up 2-0 in the series and heading back to Boston for a potentially series clinching game on home ice, but they also will hit the ice with their stars better rested, and their depth sharper.
Kessel did not shy away from using her depth players, who had fresher legs later in the game. Even Jess Healey, who was one of two players who saw less than 10 minutes of ice total for Boston, got a shift in the deciding triple overtime period.
Wenczkowski, who scored the overtime winner, only played 12:42 herself in the game. But in a game where fatigue was a factor, she got the chance in overtime, and it paid off for Boston.
With Montreal's stars taking the brunt of the work, Montreal coach Kori Cheverie will almost be forced to give her depth a better look in game three in order to preserve her stars in the game.
Boston entered as the underdog, but have found ways to win. In game one it was physicality, and in game two it's the utilization of their depth. When game three drops the puck in Lowell, both teams will look to see, depth or top line players, steps up to earn the win.