What I’m seeing from the PWHL playoffs: A physical start, a goalie battle and a hat trick
LAVAL, Que. , — It took just one loss in the opening game of the Montreal Victoire’s first-round series against the Minnesota Frost for the questions to begin. The Victoire got to select their opponent for the first round of the PWHL playoffs by virtue of winning the PWHL’s regular-season title.
And rather than face the No. 4-seeded Ottawa Charge, Montreal made the bold move to play the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost. After the game, a chaotic 5-4 overtime victory for Minnesota, Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie was asked if she had any regrets about the team’s decision.
It would be easy to start second-guessing, particularly after a dominant first period by the Frost or each time Minnesota thwarted a Montreal comeback before a Laura Stacey goal could even be fully announced by the public-address announcer to a thunderous applause. Not for Cheverie, though, who responded to the question with a resounding “no. ” That, too, is easy enough to understand.
Cheverie admitted the team didn’t really play its game until the third period — where Montreal outshot (12-7) and outscored (2-1) Minnesota to force overtime. But despite a shaky start, the Victoire managed to score four goals in a playoff game for the first time in the team’s three postseason berths. Montreal also allowed five goals against for the first time all season after an uncharacteristic performance by star goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens, who has never been scored on five times in a single game over 70 career starts — across the regular season and playoffs — in the PWHL.
Desbiens set records for wins (19), save percentage (. 955) and goals-against average (1. 11) in a single season this season.
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