Victoire Lose Poulin and the Game in Overtime

Montreal loses an important game 3–4 against the Boston Fleet, who made a big comeback, and also loses their captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, in the process. The Victoire face an unfamiliar feeling: losing at home.

One of Montreal's biggest rivals was in town for the first time this season: the Boston Fleet, the strongest team in the league alongside the Victoire, who had just come off a 12-day break. The two teams, fighting for first place, put on a show at Place Bell with big hits and post-whistle scrums. But beyond the teams’ rivalry, the Fleet carries many players toward whom Canadian Olympic players hold a feeling of bitter resentment. Notably, Boston captain and American golden goal scorer Megan Keller, and Aerin Frankel in net.

Poulin Leaves After Knee Hit

Montreal put one on the board first on a power play courtesy of Marie-Philip Poulin, who was able to deflect a huge shot from Nicole Gosling. (The last time Boston failed to open the scoring dates back to December 27.) A few minutes later, Boston’s Hannah Brandt was penalized for an illegal body check, sending the Victoire to another one-player advantage. Defenseman Kati Tabin scored to extend the lead, but moments earlier, attention had turned to Marie-Philip Poulin leaving the ice after a hit from Maloney on her right knee, the same one she had injured at the Olympics. She left the ice limping worse than what we saw in Milan and did not return for the remainder of the game. Cheverie shared postgame that there were no updates on her situation.

Boston Refuses to Go Quietly

Abby Roque brought the score to 3–0, but the Fleet did not allow themselves to be this humiliated and finally put their name on the board in the third with a controversial goal from Loren Gabel that left many thinking there was goalie interference on Desbiens. Kori Cheverie was one of those believers, as she made it pretty clear what her opinion was when she firmly stated: “Your goalie can't make a save when someone's sitting on top and kneeling on her left shoulder, pinning it to the ground.”

Later in the third, Montreal defenseman Maggie Flaherty laid a big hit on Jill Saulnier that left her frozen on the ice for a moment. Flaherty was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Montreal held down the fort during an important penalty kill that was also a 3-on-5 at one point, thanks in large part to Ann-Renée Desbiens. Yet, in the dying minutes of the third, the dark horse for many Canadian Olympic silver medalists, Megan Keller, brought the score to 3–2 with a shot that beat Desbiens on her glove side. And with 14 seconds to go, Tapani equalized the game, reminding Montreal why Boston is the best team in the league.

It is important to note that Montreal played a total of about nine minutes of the third period shorthanded.

Ella Huber won it for the Fleet in overtime and served Montreal an unfamiliar feeling: losing at home.

Four Unanswered Goals

Four unanswered goals from the Fleet were something I had not seen coming, especially considering how well Montreal was playing. They were gritty, blocking shots, laying big hits, and killing huge penalties. “I think obviously we got to work on our 5 on 6. We know that. We felt that tonight,” confided Laura Stacey. “We know what we want. We know what we're going after, and it's gonna take moments like this to help us get there.”

Fleet head coach Kris Sparre credited the team’s comeback to preparation and past experience. “We know that we can come back in games. We know that we can close out games when we have the lead. And so when you partner those two things together, you don't have to rely on alternative motives.”

Boston conserves its spot in first place in the standings, and Montreal must regroup as they face the Seattle Torrent on Thursday.