Laval, QC (January 27, 2024) – Maureen Murphy scored at 3:30 of overtime and Ann-Renée Desbiens made 43 saves to lead Montréal to a 2-1 win against Ottawa at Place Bell in Laval on Saturday.
A crowd of 8,646 fans were on hand to see the home team win, breaking the Canadian attendance record for a women’s professional hockey game. The record was previously set during the January 2 game between these two teams at The Arena at TD Place in Ottawa.
The overtime-winning-goal was Murphy’s first of the season—and first as a professional— after entering the game with six assists.
The game-winner was scored after defender Kati Tabin muscled the puck off an Ottawa player and charged into the offensive zone. She then threw the puck on net, creating a rebound, which Murphy collected from the slot and roofed past a screened Emerance Maschmeyer.
Desbiens stood tall for the home team from puck-drop, making 43 saves in the win, a season-high for the 29-year-old. Her play was highlighted by a stellar third period in which her team was outshot 19-3.
Ottawa outshot Montréal in all three periods in regulation and the final shot tally was 44-24 in favour of the road team. It’s the second game in a row Montréal has given up more than 40 shots and been outshot by 20, three days after Minnesota put up 46.
Laura Stacey opened the scoring at 4:12 in the first period, the forward’s fourth goal of the season.
Stacey scored on Maschmeyer with a strong move in which the power forward changed directions behind the net, before sliding the puck past the goal line with a quick wraparound. Erin Ambrose collected the lone assist on the tally.
The second period featured a penalty shot—awarded to Stacey after the forward was taken down while cutting to the net. Maschmeyer was shaken up on the play but was able to remain in the game. She then stopped Stacey’s deke attempt, which kept the game 1-0.
Ottawa finally beat Desbiens in the third period with a powerplay goal off the stick of Hayley Scamurra, at 6:10, to tie the game 1-1.
Brianne Jenner fed the puck across the ice with a saucer pass, which Scamurra one-timed from the middle of the circle past Desbiens.
Murphy’s overtime goal was confirmed after video review ruled that Montréal’s Ann-Sophie Bettez did not interfere with Maschmeyer on the play.
Next up, Ottawa hosts New York on February 4, the first time the two teams will meet. The same afternoon, Montréal travels to Boston – the two teams last met at Verdun Auditorium on January 13. Boston won 3-2 in overtime.
Postgame Quotes
Ottawa head coach CARLA MACLEOD – “Everyone is such a natural competitor that in the heat of the moment, there’s a little frustration, of course. The games are so close and every point matters. Certainly there’s that piece. But I think we do a good job collectively exhaling and realizing that we are not in a sprint. This isn’t a short term, one week competition. This is a 24-game season. We’re just at the quarter mark right now. If we continue to outshoot teams two to one… I’m not a big math person, but I like our odds.”
Ottawa defender ASHTON BELL – “Obviously, tough one not to get the win in OT. I’m just proud of our group and the way we came out and battle back to tie it up there. I think we just dominated the majority of the game and had real good scoring chances. Overall, I’m happy with the direction that we’re headed. I’m excited about the group that we have.”
Montréal head coach KORI CHEVERIE — “It was great playing in front of such a large crowd. They were so loud that I when I was trying to talk to the players, I’m pretty sure they couldn’t hear me. I’m happy Murph got the game winner — she’s a hard worker and it finally paid off.”
Notes:
- Attendance: 8,646 – Place Bell, Laval, QC.
- Three Stars: 1) Maureen Murphy 2) Ann-Renée Desbiens 3) Laura Stacey
- Ottawa outshot Montreal 12-11 in the first, 12-6 in the second and 19-3 in the third.
- Montreal’s third period shot count is tied for their lowest in a period this season — They also put up three third period shots against Minnesota on January 6.
- Desbiens’ 43 saves are just two shy of teammate Elaine Chuli’s 45 on January 24 for the most by a goaltender in a game this season.
- Montréal was outshot by 20 in both games – the highest differentials league wide.
- Ottawa’s Hayley Scamurra led all players with seven shots on goal – Stacey was second in the game with six.
- Ottawa was 1/4 on the powerplay — Montréal was 0/2.
- Ottawa leads the league with six powerplay goals and a rate of 30%.
- Emerance Maschmeyer has now faced two penalty shots on the season, both against Montréal — She stopped Marie-Philip Poulin’s attempt on January 2.
- Murphy is now tied with Poulin and Tereza Vanišová for the team lead in points with seven.
- Ann-Sophie Bettez and Kati Tabin both have two overtime points this season.
- The tilt was the second overtime game between the two teams and the second that broke the Canadian attendance record for a professional women’s hockey game— Both took place on January 2, a game also won by Montréal, by a score of 3-2.
- Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner now has a three-game point streak — Teammate Lexie Adzija’s point streak to start the season ends at five.
- Scamurra’s powerplay goal puts her in a tie for the league-lead with two.
- Half of Montréal’s eight games have gone beyond regulation, the most of any team — Ottawa is second with three overtime games in their six games played.
- Ottawa is 0-3 in overtime games – Montréal is 2-1, plus one shootout loss.
- Montréal has points in six straight games and have played in five straight one-goal decisions.
- This is the first time Montréal has won consecutive games all season — It’s the first time Ottawa lost consecutive games.
- Montréal (3-2-2-1) remains atop the league standings with 15 points having played a third of their schedule — Ottawa (2-0-3-1) sits third with nine points at the quarter-mark of their season.
- Game Center | League Standings | League Schedule | League Stats