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With a week of action in the books, PWHL Montreal hasn’t had the easiest start to its history. Kori Cheverie’s team won its first game in overtime thanks to an Ann-Sophie Bettez goal but were shutout in their second game as they couldn’t solve Minnesota’s goaltender Maddie Rooney. Montreal could only watch as Team USA’s Grace Zumwinkle scored a hat trick in the 3-0 win.
Last night, Montreal had a date with New York in the New York Islanders’ arena which was unfortunately pretty empty, unlike what we’ve seen in Ottawa, Minnesota and Toronto, only 2,201 fans turned up for the game. Odds seemed stacked against Montreal as they were without two of their most important players; Ann-Sophie Bettez (for a second game in a row) and Laura Stacey. Both were taken out of the line-up for precautionary reasons or, in other words, with injuries that haven’t been confirmed yet. The injury ninja seems to like PWHL Montreal just as much as it likes the Montreal Canadiens.
Ann-Renée Desbiens also made way for 29-year-old back-up Elaine Chuli who was told on Tuesday that she would get the start. Considering Chuli had played her college hockey in the neighboring University of Connecticut, it was great for her to play on that night, she was pleased to report that she even saw a UConn sign in the crowd, she must have felt right at home.
Montreal had a nervous start to the game and New York dominated much of the first period. Jessie Eldrige drew first blood six minutes in, but thankfully for Montreal, Marie-Philip Poulin, who had yet to get a point in the new league, found the back of the net a couple of minutes later. The goal seemed to settle Montreal’s nerves and the ladies were also helped by the fact New York took a couple of penalties.
Chuli wasn’t the only player making her debut for Montreal either. Because of the injuries, reserve player Catherine Dubois was signed to a 10-day contract as provided for in the PWHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. The 28-year-old Quebec city native clearly wanted to make an impression and she did just that. Head coach Cheverie mentioned that she couldn’t have played any better and that her style of play was needed. She called her a fearless player who crashes the net with a purpose. Dubois was everywhere on the ice and even scored Montreal’s second goal midway through the game on the power play (Montreal’s first power play goal as well). Her performance even earned her a spot on the top line alongside Marie-Philip Poulin and Maureen Murphy.
Montreal could have panicked when New York tied up the game early in the third, but they didn’t. They stuck to their guns and their game plan and got the lead back through Kennedy Marchment’s first goal of the season less than five minutes later. Marie-Philip Poulin then completed a beautiful passing play with Maureen Murphy and scored her second goal of the game to make it 4-2. Desperate to get back into the game, New York pulled their goaltender Corrine Schroeder hoping to capitalize with six skaters, but the strategy backfired and only allowed Marie-Philip Poulin to complete her hat trick. It seems fitting that the best player in the country should have the honor to score the first hat trick in franchise history.
It was a brilliant performance by Montreal who showed they could step up their game when they needed to the most. After the loss in Minnesota, Poulin was asked if she was starting to get nervous because she had yet to score a goal and the captain said with calm and confidence she wasn’t worried at all and it was only a couple of games, the puck can’t always go in when you want it to. Last night, Poulin was vindicated as she shone brightly in the franchise’s first regulation win.
Montreal now has five points out of a possible 9 to start its season and stands 2nd in the standings, behind Minnesota who’s won their first three games. On Saturday afternoon, Montreal will finally play it’s home opener in Verdun when they’ll take on Hilary Knight and Boston. The game is set to start at 3:30 p.m. and is already sold out. Fear not though, you can catch it live on CBC and SRC. Canadiens’ fans, this is a perfect starter to your hockey day before the Habs take on the Oilers in the evening. The PWHL offers a fast and physical brand of hockey which is sure to entertain you.
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