LOWELL, MA (May 4, 2024) – Kaleigh Fratkin scored the game-winning goal with just 1:20 remaining in the third period as Boston beat Montréal 4-3 at a sold-out Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, Boston clinches one of the final two PWHL playoff positions after Minnesota lost in regulation earlier in the day.
Fratkin’s winner came after Montréal stormed back from a three-goal deficit in the third period, scoring three straight goals.
After Marie-Philip Poulin scored at 16:51 on a 6-on-5 advantage with goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens on the bench to tie the game 3-3, both teams continued to apply the pressure with regulation winding down.
Alina Müller nearly gave Boston the lead with just 1:36 remaining on a breakaway, but Desbiens stretched across to keep the game tied.
The winner was scored after Fratkin threw a shot towards the net from the point, receiving a fortuitous deflection at the face-off dot off a Montréal player, finding the back of the net to give her team a 4-3 lead.
Boston entered the game with the opportunity to control their own playoff destiny. A regulation win guaranteed them a playoff position, as they could match Minnesota’s season point total and overtake them in the standings by virtue of having more overtime wins in the tiebreaker. At least one point would have also kept them alive, entering the game tied with Ottawa in points, whose final game is on Sunday.
They got off to a strong start, scoring the game’s first three goals, including two in the first period.
Hilary Knight opened the scoring for Boston, tallying her sixth goal of the season at 15:19 of the first.
Knight scored off a rebound created by a Kelly Babstock shot, as she secured the puck at the side of the crease before tapping it in past Desbiens. Hannah Brandt also assisted on the play.
Müller made it 2-0 at 18:42, winning an offensive zone draw before taking a feed from Theresa Schafzahl and one-timing it home.
Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel stood tall for her team in the first, making 11 saves, turning aside a number of high-quality chances early in the frame.
Megan Keller scored her fourth goal of the season at 6:23 of the second period to give Boston a commanding 3-0 lead. Knight recorded her second point of the game on the goal, sliding the puck to Keller who was headed to the net. Keller then roofed the puck with a backhand shot.
Mikyla Grant-Mentis scored her first two PWHL goals, both on the powerplay, to start Montréal’s comeback in the third period. Amanda Boulier assisted on both markers.
Frankel made 28 saves to earn her eighth win of the season. Desbiens made 31 saves in the loss.
Up next, both teams await their playoff opponents heading into the final game of the regular-season schedule. Ottawa can clinch the final postseason position and would finish in third with a regulation win tomorrow in Toronto. Minnesota can secure the fourth and final spot if Ottawa produces two or less points. Toronto, the league’s first place team, will select its semifinal opponent after the final standings are confirmed.
Postgame Quotes:
PWHL Boston defender Megan Keller: “I felt like our team came out right away and we were ready to play. Obviously, it was a rollercoaster. We’re up three, we’re down three, but the way that our group stuck together is the type of team that we are. When we came back from break, that was the sentiment there. I’m just really proud of this group and excited for the playoffs.”
PWHL Boston captain Hilary Knight: “With the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows of the season, we couldn’t be prouder of the group for how we’ve continued to respond, elevate and evolve. This is a different team since the break and it’s wonderful to be a part of. All that hard work that we’ve put in the bank and we’re going to continue to go with it.”
PWHL Boston Head Coach Courtney Kessel: “That was absolutely insane. I honestly don’t know what my thoughts are yet because there’s so many. I think heading into the third, we were hoping to close it out. Then you take two penalties, and you know Montreal’s powerplay is hot right now and they’re right back in the game. It was exciting to the fans. That’s what they come here for and, at the end of the day, we won, we clinched and we’re excited.”
Notes:
- Attendance: 5,964 – Sell out – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, Lowell, MA.
- Three Stars: 1) Kaleigh Fratkin 2) Hilary Knight 3) Marie-Philip Poulin
- Shots ended 35-31 in favor of Boston— They led the category in the first (12-11) and second (14-8), but Montréal had the advantage in the third (12-9).
- Poulin led all players with eight shots on goal – Knight finished second with five shots.
- Boston was 0/1 on the powerplay — Montréal was 2/3.
- Montréal scored multiple powerplay goals for the third time in five games.
- Mikyla Grant-Mentis became the fourth player to score two powerplay goals in a game – She joins teammate Kristin O’Neill who accomplished the feat on Apr. 18.
- Megan Keller (BOS) led all skaters with 28:24 TOI — Erin Ambrose led Montréal in ice-time, logging 21:23.
- Aerin Frankel finishes the regular season with eight wins, third-most among all PWHL goaltenders.
- Knight (2G, 2A) and Hannah Brandt (1G, 3A) finish the season on three-game point streaks.
- Poulin finishes the season with 23 points (10G, 13A) in 21 games played — She currently sits in a tie for second in the PWHL scoring race with Alex Carpenter (NY).
- Alina Müller moves into a tie with Montréal’s Maureen Murphy for third in rookie scoring — Both players have 16 points (5G, 11A) in 24 games.
- Kelly Babstock records her first-ever PWHL point in her fourth game this season – She signed an SPA with Boston earlier in the day after playing three games on a 10-Day contract.
- Laura Stacey extended her point streak to five games (3G, 4A) — She sits tied for ninth place in league scoring with 18 points (10G, 8A) in 23 games played.
- Poulin and Stacey are tied with Sarah Nurse (TOR) for third in the PWHL with 10 goals.
- Ambrose recorded her 14th assist to tie Ella Shelton (NY) for the category lead among defenders – She sits tied for ninth in scoring with 18 points (4G, 14A) in 24 games.
- Mélodie Daoust extended her point streak to four games (2G, 2A) – She has recorded points in five of her six games played this season.
- Amanda Boulier (2A) recorded her first multi-point performance of the season.
- The season series ends tied 6-6 in points with each team winning twice.
- The game was Boston’s final regular season match at home as the team held Mental Health Awareness and Fan Appreciation Day.
- Boston scored four goals for just the second time this season and first time in regulation.
- Boston surrendered three goals in the third period for the first time this season.
- Montréal erased a three-goal deficit for the first time this season.
- Boston finished with a 3-2-2-4 record and 15 points in 11 games at the Tsongas Center.
- Montréal finished the season with a 4-2-2-4 record and 18 points as the road team.
- Boston (8-4-3-9) collects three points for the regulation win, clinching a playoff position — They will finish third if Ottawa records two or less points on Sunday and fourth if Ottawa wins in regulation.
- Montréal (10-3-5-6) finished the season with 41 points — Their playoff opponent will be determined on Monday after Toronto chooses between the third and fourth place teams.
- Today’s crowd of 5,964 is the team’s largest of the season and first sell out on home ice.
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