On Wednesday night, PWHL New York and PWHL Montreal faced off for the fourth time this season at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. With only a handful of games left in the season, every game is crucial for one of the four spots in the postseason. New York was looking to return to the win column as they entered this game on a season-high three-game skid.
To start the first period, New York came in with blazing speed as they had six shots on goal in the first six minutes. Everything was going New York's way until a turnover in the offensive zone turned into a Montreal goal. Jillian Dempsey received a cross-ice pass from Sarah Lefort in the neutral zone, weaved around the New York defense, and scored. Dempsey's goal was the momentum shifter in the period, as Montreal scored again five minutes later.
Catherine Dubois carried the puck into the zone and fed Sarah Bujold in front of the net. Sarah Bujold broke free from her defender and scored on the backhand. Society says all good things come in threes, and that was the case for Montreal, who scored their third goal of the period when Marie Philip-Poulin fed a one-timer to Gabrielle David, who scored off a deflection.
With less than four minutes to go in the period, New York got an opportunity on the power play and needed to cash in if they wanted a chance to come back. Jessie Eldridge did just that as an attempt to a cross-ice feed went off a Montreal defender and into the net, cutting the deficit to two heading into the intermission.
The second period brought about great intensity from both sides as New York was eager to even the score, and Montreal determined to protect their lead. Both sides got incredible scoring opportunities, but they were stopped by the spectacular goalkeeping from Montreal's Ann-Renée Desbiens and New York's Corinne Schroeder.
In the second half of the period, New York got another power play and capitalized on the man advantage once again. Ella Shelton took a shot from the top of the zone that was deflected into the net by Abby Roque, putting New York down only one heading into the third period.
Going into the third period, New York had the momentum on their side, but Montreal quickly flipped it to their side. The feed may have briefly stopped for the fans at home, but Philip-Poulin kept the scoring going as she netted her second point off a give-and-go from Laura Stacey. A few minutes after Montreal's goal, New York got another opportunity on the power play and desperately needed a goal. The power play unit was again successful as Shelton also rocketed a shot that Eldridge deflected for her second goal of the night. New York pushed hard in the game's final moments but ultimately fell short of making a comeback and dropped their fourth game in a row.
What's Next For PWHL New York
New York is back in action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Tsongas Center to take on PWHL Boston, where they'll look to get back in the win column.
- Power Play Shines as PWHL NY Breaks 7-Game Skid Before the Break - March 26, 2024
- Jersey Native Hannah Hidalgo Leads Notre Dame To Third Straight Sweet 16 - March 25, 2024
- New York's Keys to Getting Back into the Win Column - March 20, 2024
