Aerin Frankel made 53 saves and Susanna Tapani scored in time beyond regulation to guide Boston to a 2-1 win in Sport 1 of their Skilled Girls’s Hockey League semifinal collection on Thursday.
Tapani pounced on a unfastened puck within the blue paint at 14:25 of the additional interval for the primary time beyond regulation purpose in PWHL playoff historical past.
Lexie Adzija scored in regulation for Boston. The guests entered the best-of-five semifinal with wins in 4 of their remaining 5 video games, together with a 4-3 victory over Montreal within the remaining sport of the common season to clinch a playoff berth.
Kristin O’Neill scored and Ann-Renee Desbiens stopped 24 pictures for Montreal earlier than 9,135 towel-waiving followers at Place Bell.
WATCH | Tapani’s winner helps Boston safe Sport 1 towards Montreal:
Boston edges Montreal 2-1 in time beyond regulation with a purpose from Susanna Tapani in Sport 1 of their PWHL best-of-five semifinal collection.
Montreal completed second within the PWHL common season and 6 factors forward of third-place Boston.
Sport 2 within the collection is Saturday in Laval.
The winner meets Toronto or Minnesota in a best-of-five remaining for the Walter Cup. Toronto leads the opposite semifinal 1-0.
Montreal, which caught hearth on the ability play late within the season, went 1-for-5 in a chippy sport that might have seen many extra penalties. Boston was 0-for-2.
Laura Stacey almost ended the sport on a breakaway 10 minutes into the additional interval however missed excessive after chasing down a stretch go from Melodie Daoust.
Keller then put Montreal on the ability play by slashing the stick out of Stacey’s fingers. Montreal, nevertheless, could not bury a winner previous Frankel.
With Boston trailing 1-0, Shirley minimize to the within and ripped a shot that hit Adzija’s stick and beat Desbiens to tie the sport 1:48 into the third interval.
WATCH | Frankel denies Stacey in unbelievable Sport 1 efficiency:
Aerin Frankel units a PWHL document with 53 saves in Boston’s 2-1 time beyond regulation victory in Sport 1 of their semifinal collection towards Montreal.
Stacey acquired a go from Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin whereas streaking down the wing, however could not tuck her backhand previous Frankel with six minutes left.
Moments later, the puck appeared to hit a participant on Montreal’s bench however the play continued and not using a whistle.
Stunned by the unusual sequence, Desbiens rushed to play the unfastened puck just for Tapani to intercept a go. Tapani shot towards an open internet however Desbiens dove to get her stick on it and preserve the sport tied.
The house staff almost doubled the lead 12 minutes into the body when Mikyla Grant-Mentis arrange Gabrielle David within the slot with Montreal as soon as once more on the ability play. David’s shot appeared to idiot Frankel, who misplaced observe of the puck, however did not hit the again of the web.
Montreal led the pictures 25-10 after 40 minutes and 12-2 after 20.
Kati Tabin discovered Stacey on their lonesome within the offensive zone early. Stacey, nevertheless, could not get her shot previous Boston’s netminder.
WATCH | Analyzing the PWHL playoff format:
The highest 4 groups within the remaining common season standings are battling it out within the league’s first-ever playoffs. However in contrast to the NHL, the highest staff will get to select their opponent.
With 1:29 left within the interval, Poulin danced round two Boston defenders on the frenzy earlier than laying a go to Stacey, however Frankel slid from publish to publish for an acrobatic toe save on the one-timer. Poulin hit the publish from a decent angle on the rebound.
Tabin’s level shot within the remaining minute trickled via Frankel and rolled simply broad of the web. Frankel then hooked Poulin to place Montreal on the ability play — finally resulting in O’Neill’s opener early within the second.
The PWHL suspended Montreal ahead Sarah Lefort for one sport forward of Sport 1 for her open-ice hit on Boston ahead Jamie Lee Rattray within the remaining sport of the common season Saturday.
Rattray, Taylor Girard and Loren Gabel — all forwards — had been out of the lineup for Boston.
Montreal activated reserve participant Melodie Daoust to play within the semifinals. The 2018 Olympics MVP is subsequently ineligible to play within the remaining ought to Montreal advance, in response to her reserve participant contract.
