Montreal used its usual recipe to get the win on Sunday afternoon, but it sprinkled in an ingredient that hasn’t been present often this season.
“Finally, the power play,” team coach Kori Cheverie said in French, before reporters could even ask her a question.
Claire Dalton set the tone with an extra player early in the first period, and Montreal beat Minnesota 2-1 in front of 10,172 spectators at Place Bell.
Cheverie’s relief can be understood when you look at the numbers. The drought of 24 power plays without a goal had lasted since January 10, in New York, and despite this goal, the Montreal team shows the worst unit in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) with a meager 5.9% (2-in-34).
The coach decided to stir things up a bit by changing her units and she was rewarded when Dalton scored the first goal of the game. A very important goal for a team that had only scored six in its last four outings.
“It’s a relief, but I knew it was a matter of time. We have the personnel to succeed. The power play is about consistently doing the simple things right. It’s about players at the net and getting pucks in that direction. We had the plan to shoot pucks from the middle. [Kati] Tabin knew that and so did Dalton,” Cheverie analyzed.
For Dalton, who had scored the first goal in the history of the Montreal team in this league, it was his second goal of the campaign.
“It’s nice to get that power play goal. We’ve been focusing on that aspect of the game lately. We want to make sure we’re more competitive across the league in that situation,” she said.
Montreal (7-2-2) got back on the winning track after losing in front of a record crowd of 19,285 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Friday night. Cheverie’s players moved to within one point of Minnesota at the top of the standings.
“I was happy with some parts of the game in Toronto, but these games in front of that many spectators are important for us. In the playoffs, the crowds are going to be loud like that and we’re going to have to use that to our advantage,” Cheverie explained.
Sarah Lefort also scored for Montreal. She chose the right moment to score her first career goal in the LPHF, breaking the deadlock in the second period.
“It was about time,” she said. “It’s just a matter of gaining confidence, taking the time to look at the options and making the plays. That was my role. I’ve been doing it in training and today, we saw it in the game.”
Elaine Chuli once again stood out in goal for Montreal, stopping 21 shots to remain undefeated in four starts this season.
Kendall Coyne Schofield scored for Minnesota (7-3-2). Maddie Rooney finished with 18 saves.
Before the game, Montreal announced that it had signed Catherine Dubois to a standard contract, after two 10-day contracts. The signing came after Dominika Laskova was placed on long-term injured reserve.
The business of a goal
Montreal dominated the first moments of the match and a penalty on Emma Greco opened the door.
On that power play, Tabin held onto the puck and drove it along the blue line before unleashing a wrist shot. Positioned in front of the net, Dalton touched the puck, which snuck past Rooney.
The Montreal team did a good job defensively and had a few chances on the restart. During a short two-on-one push, Kristin O’Neill was frustrated by Rooney.
The visitors got their first shot on Chuli with 7:38 left, but it was the second that proved more dangerous. Grace Zumwinkle beat two players and cut to the net, but the Montreal goalie held on.
Chuli was however unable to do anything against Coyne Schofield’s excellent backhand shot, after a rebound from Claire Butorac.
Coyne Schofield had a chance to give Minnesota the lead early in the second period. She used her speed down the left wing to get in front of Chuli. However, her shot was blocked by the goalie.
It was Montreal who moved ahead. Lefort made a superb high pass to Madison Bizal, which was stolen by Rooney. The return, however, stopped in the semi-circle, where Lefort pushed it into the net.
Minnesota buzzed through the final minute of the second period, failing to tie the game. Erin Ambrose lost her footing and connected with Chuli, but the defender still stopped Kelly Pannek’s shot.
Montreal had a close call in the final period, when it was given two penalties in a row. Chuli and the penalty kill did the job, however. The team then confirmed its victory late in the game, despite heavy pressure from Minnesota and a shot on the post.
