LAVAL, QC (January 16, 2024) — Marie-Philip Poulin scored at 13:46 in the third period, and Montréal became the first Canadian team in PWHL history to win on home ice with their 3-2 triumph over New York on Tuesday.
After the visitors tied the game 2-2 in the third period, which erased Montréal’s 2-0 first period lead, Poulin put the puck behind New York goaltender Abigail Levy with just over six minutes to go in regulation to give her team a 3-2 advantage in the team’s Place Bell debut.
Maureen Murphy recorded the lone assist on the game-winner, her second of the contest, and fifth of the season. Murphy fed the puck cross-crease to Poulin, who was able to fight off the New York defender to tap the puck in backdoor on her backhand.
Gabrielle David gave Montréal a 1-0 lead at 16:50 in the opening frame, the first goal scored at Place Bell, and her first goal of the season. David scored low blocker side after linemate Jillian Dempsey fed the puck to the first-year pro, who found herself alone in the slot.
The home crowd didn’t have to wait long to celebrate again—just 17 seconds after the first goal, defender Leah Lum gave Montréal a 2-0 lead after her shot from the point made it through a crowd in front, and into the back of the net. Murphy and Tereza Vanišová assisted on the goal, which was Lum’s first of the season.
Jaime Bourbonnais became the third player in a row to record their first mark of the year when the New York defender scored a powerplay goal at 8:14 in the second period, which cut the lead to 2-1. Ella Shelton picked up the primary assist on the goal, and Alex Carpenter recorded the secondary assist on the tally, her first of two helpers in the game.
New York forward Jessie Eldridge tied the game 2-2 just 11 seconds into the third period with her third of the season. The forward shot the puck from the top of the circle and over Montréal goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens’ shoulder after Carpenter won the offensive zone draw directly to Eldridge.
Montréal killed off a penalty at 17:37 in the third—before New York took their own penalty at 18:55—and were able to hold on for the victory.
Desbiens turned aside 16 shots in the third period, and 30 overall, to record her first regulation win of the year. Levy made 27 saves in the game, in what was her second start of the season.
Up next, New York plays their third road game in a row when they visit Boston at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell on January 15 at 12:30 p.m. ET. That same night at 8:00 p.m. ET, Montréal hosts Toronto, the first time the two teams will meet.
NOTES:
- Attendance: 6,334 — Place Bell — Laval, QC.
- Three Stars: 1) Marie-Philip Poulin 2) Tereza Vanišová 3) Alex Carpenter
- Montréal becomes the second PWHL team to win on home ice this season, joining Minnesota who has two wins at home.
- Montréal’s goals just 17 seconds apart are the two quickest by a team this season — The previous fastest was 29 seconds apart, scored by Montréal during their January 13 home opener.
- Montréal finished with a 32-30 advantage in shots — They outshot New York 12-9 in the first, and 11-6 in the second —New York outshot Montréal 17-7 in the third period.
- Alex Carpenter led all skaters with 6 shots on goal — Four players recorded four shots: Jessie Eldridge and Jaime Bourbonnais (NY); Laura Stacey and Tereza Vanišová (MTL).
- With her four shots on net on Tuesday, Stacey now has 13 in the last two games.
- Montréal has scored the first goal of the game in both of their home games this season after giving up the first goal of the game in their first three road games.
- Gabrielle David became the first Quebec-born player to score a PWHL goal in her home province — Ann-Sophie Bettez recorded the first point in the province by a Quebec-born player on January 13.
- Montréal went 0/4 on the powerplay.
- New York was 1/3 on the powerplay on Tuesday — The goal on their first powerplay of the game was their third consecutive with the advantage after they went 2/2 last game against Minnesota.
- Montréal and New York are top two in penalty minutes this season — Montreal has 42 and New York has 40, each with five games played.
- Eldridge is on a four-game point streak (three goals, two assists).
- Ella Shelton and Carpenter now sit tied for first in the league in points with 7 each.
- Shelton, Vanišová, and Maureen Murphy share the league lead in assists with 5 each.
- Marie-Philip Poulin is tied for first in PWHL goals with 4.
- Place Bell is the eighth venue to host a PWHL this season.
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