PWHL New York secured the first overall pick in the PWHL Draft and first pick in ech subsequent round with a comeback win over Ottawa.
PWHL New York secured the first overall pick in the PWHL Draft and first pick in ech subsequent round with a comeback win over Ottawa.
"With the first pick in the 2024 PWHL draft, New York selects..."
That soundbite in Minnesota this June became a reality in a major way on Tuesday night when the hosts at The Prudential Center in New Jersey staged an incredible second-period rally and went on to defeat PWHL Ottawa, 4-3.
The loss to New York had even greater ramifications for the visitors, who were unable to clinch a playoff berth.
Ottawa now faces a situation in which the fourth and final spot will be decided this weekend. Ottawa visits Toronto on Sunday at 7 p.m., while Boston remains in the hunt and hosts Montreal on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Also on Saturday, New York is back at UBS Arena in Elmont on Long Island to battle Minnesota in a 1 p.m. puck drop. However, that is simply window dressing now for the squad that will have the first pick in each round of this summer's draft.
Among the headliners for New York to choose from are Sarah Fillier (C/Princeton), Hannah Bilka (LW/Ohio State), Cayla Barnes (D/Ohio State) and Danielle Serdachny (C/Colgate).
Trailing 2-0 to Ottawa after the opening 20 minutes, New York players reportedly once again had a team meeting but unlike this past Sunday in full view from the bench this one took place in the locker room between the first and second periods.
Whatever was said reaped huge dividends.
"We just got together as players and coaches ... we were all on the same page, we regrouped and made some adjustments," said Jade Downie-Landry at the second-period intermission. Her toe-drag tally at 7:24 of the middle frame started a barrage of four straight goals for New York. "I thought we were more physical and got a lot more pucks to the net."
New York completely flipped the script during that dominant second period in which all four goals were scored in a span of just over eight-and-a-half minutes to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 advantage.
Everything went right in that middle frame for New York, which blended solid forechecking, clogging up the lanes, winning puck battles and effectiveness in transition to create the offensive surge.
In fact, the home team at 'The Rock' stood so large and in charge that Ottawa didn't have a single shot on net over the last nine-and-a-half minutes in that period.
Less than two minutes after Downie-Landry's goal, Ella Shelton fired the puck past Ottawa netminder Emerance Maschmeyer for the equalizer and her sixth goal. That score came off a great feed from Alex Carpenter, who recorded her 14th assist.
Carpenter's 22 points (8 goals, 14 assists) moves her into a tie with Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin for second place among the league's points leaders. Natalie Spooner of Toronto holds the top spot with 23 points.
Tremendous persistence while outbattling Ottawa defenders around the crease resulted in New York's third and fourth goals as Kayla Vespa and Elizabeth Giguere each deposited backhanders on second attempts. The goals were their second and third respectively this season.
Shelton had the primary assists on both of the latter goals and increased her number of helpers this season to 12. Along with her earlier goal, Shelton provided a three-point night.
After a lackluster start to the contest, Ottawa began to take charge in the hosts' end of the ice and capitalized on an odd-player rush to take the early lead in the first period.
Savannah Harmon, who wrapped up play with a pair of assists, sent a perfect pass from the left circle to the low slot, where a waiting Akane Shiga completed an easy tip-in at 5:35 of the first period to put the visitors' ahead 1-0.
New York goalie Corinne Schroeder was anchored at the near post and couldn't get across in time to prevent Shiga's second goal this season.
That score clearly motivated the visitors, who continued to apply intense pressure in New York's end. At one point midway through the first, New York was called for a penalty but could not gain possession to force a whistle and, for over a minute, Ottawa was in control with a 6-on-5.
Hayley Scamurra put Ottawa up by two goals with five-and-a-half minutes left in the first when she went top shelf on Schroeder while flying in from the right side.
From that point on, Schroeder was terrific and finished with 33 saves.
Daryl Watts gave Ottawa life when she scored her ninth goal with 58 seconds left, but New York shut the door and came away with their first win in the past four games.