April 18, 2024 – Verdun, Quebec
Kristin O’Neill scores twice, leads Montreal to a comeback back win over Minnesota
The PWHL has resumed operations following a break while the IIHF Women’s World Championship was taking place, that saw Canada edge the United States by the slimmest of margins to win the tournament.
Several Montreal players had a big impact on that overtime barn burner, with Montreal and Team Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin scoring twice, while goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens held the the fort just well enough to keep the Americans from taking the gold. Erin Ambrose also scored off a shot that deflected into the American net after bouncing off of Caroline Harvey.
See Also: Montreal Alliance select Ismaël Diouf 1st overall at 2024 CEBL draft
This was Montreal’s first home game since the World Championships wrapped up, and like Minnesota – they had five players on the ice that had played in the cup final of the World Championships. Ten players combined – certainly there was to be a certain animosity among some, but also a sense of comradery. Either way, it shows the level of skill on display in the PWHL’s inaugural season.
Montreal took the lead in the first period, where they overcame their special teams woes and scored twice while on the power play – something that has hampered the squad all season long. Kristin O’Neill opened the scoring at 7:22 while Marie-Phillip Poulin finished up a beautiful passing play between Erin Ambrose on a tick-tack-toe play started by Laura Stacey, to put Montreal up by two with slightly more than two minutes to play in the first period.
The momentum of the game began to swing in Minnesota’s favor in the second period. Montreal’s Mikyla Grant-Mentis was penalized twice, and Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle scored on their second power play to get themselves within a goal. It was to be a night where special teams played a massive role in the outcome of the match. Kelly Pannek deflected a shot from Sophie Jaques that beat Elaine Chuli to even the score.
A minute and a half later, Brooke Bryant found herself starring down at a loose puck that she promptly shoveled into the back of the net, giving Minnesota their third goal of the period and the lead. It was her first goal of the season. That lead held strong until Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie pulled the goalie with 2:49 left in the game. A risky decision that paid dividends.
Roughly twenty seconds later, Stacey fired a rocket of a shot into the back of the net to tie the game at three goals a piece. Again, special teams would come into play as Minnesota’s Maggie Flaherty took an untimely hooking penalty that ultimately cost them the game.
Somehow, feisty Kristin O’Neill had scored just a single goal this season going into this match; but that was all about to change. O’Neill is the heart and soul character player that all good teams have, and even if pucks haven’t been going into the net for her, she provides a whole lot of other qualities on the ice. If there’s a scrum on the ice, there’s a good chance she’s at the heart of it. Tonight, her contribution came by way of not one – but two key goals, including the game winning goal that came with just 46 seconds remaining in regulation time. Both on the power play.
With the victory, Montreal moves to just a single point behind Minnesota for second place in the league. Both teams have four remaining goals left to play, and tonight’s win could end up being a game both teams reflect on.
Now that the NHL season has concluded, and the Montreal Canadiens are again on the outside looking in, and the Laval Rocket need a minor miracle to make their post-season dreams a reality, it looks as if this hockey mad city will be relying upon the Women to deliver the high intensity playoff level hockey it so badly craves.
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Montreal’s next home game will take place on April 20th at the Bell Center against Toronto, a match that sold out in less than four minutes and once puck drops, will become the highest attended Women’s hockey game in history, as the PWHL continues to smash records and push boundaries.
Given that the only arena bigger than the Bell Center is SKA Arena in Saint-Petersburg, Russia – it’s safe to say this is a record that will stand for some time. Unless an outdoor match takes place in the style of the NHL’s Winter Classic, of course.
