PWHL Boston played a physical, hard hitting game. They looked playoff ready in their opening win over Montreal.
PWHL Boston played a physical, hard hitting game. They looked playoff ready in their opening win over Montreal.
Last night at Bell Place, Montreal dominated the game against Boston. Just take a look at the shots on goal, and with that line only, you might think it was a game between Canada and Switzerland at the last World championship. But what Montreal wasn’t able to do was capitalized on its chances. Combine this with the tough, physical game that Boston is playing, and you’ll understand better why Boston won the first game of this series, 2-1, in overtime.
Montreal had 54 shots. For a team averaging 29 shots this season, that’s a lot. It’s actually the most the team had all year. They had many opportunities throughout the game, including five power plays, but weren’t able to get more than one passed Aerin Frankel, thanks to Kristin O’Neill. In overtime especially, Laura Stacey had a breakaway and wasn’t able to score. A short time after that, Megan Keller got caught for slashing on Stacey, offering the game to Montreal on a silver platter. Montreal tried, but failed.
A minute and 25 seconds later, Susanna Tapani, who was acquired in February in PWHL’s very first trade, scored and gave the win to her team.
Boston played a very physical game and it took a toll on Montreal, who played only with three lines. The line of Lum-Dempsey-Poznikoff didn’t have one shift all game. A lot of body checks along the boards, some open ice hits, cross-checking, interference, slashing, the whole nine yards. As George Costanza would say about winning a real fight, “Pull hair, poke eyes, groin stuff. Whatever I gotta do.” Whatever they have to do is what Boston did. They didn’t give five power plays for no reason. They might not be playing their home games at the old Garden, but the Big Bad Bruins have nothing on PWHL Boston. With a league’s average height at 5-foot-7, Megan Keller, Hilary Knight, Susanna Tapani, and Lexie Adzija all look like giants. Boston is built for playoff hockey.
“I believe we are,” said Tapani after the game. “We could have played five or six periods!”
Talking about getting in your opponent’s head. Montreal’s coach Kori Cheverie thought her team played well, especially at shutting down Boston’s offense. And she’s right. But it’s going to take more.
Game two gets underway Saturday, May 11 at 7pm in Laval.