Poulin leads Montreal to 4-3 win over New York
Despite a tough game for its special teams, Montreal beat New York 4-3 Wednesday night in Professional Women's Hockey League action.
Marie-philip Poulin scored the winning goal and had an assist, while Jillian Dempsey, Sarah Bujold and Gabrielle David also scored for Montreal. Goalie Ann-renée Desbiens turned aside 25 shots in the victory.
Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie said her players know they weren't up to par on the power play, which went 0-for-6 on the night.
“We have very confident players on our power play,” Cheverie said. Our special teams weren't good.”
Poulin believes her squad needs to play with a greater sense of urgency with the extra attacker.
“We have our chances and have to take advantage of them,” the forward said. “These are very important moments in a game, when you're on the power play.”
Jessie Eldridge scored twice for New York, while Abby Roque also found the back of the net and Corinne Schroeder blocked 27 shots.
Cheverie knows her team got away with a subpar effort.
“In the end, we got the three points for the win,” the coach said. “That's what we'll be concentrating on.”
Montreal had won two of its three previous meetings with New York this season, but lost the last one 3-2 in a shootout on Feb. 21.
Montreal scored three of its four goals in the first period. New York scored all of its goals on the power play, converting on three of the team's five chances.
New York was awarded a power play after only 1:09 of play, but it was Montreal that had the best chance to score on a 2-on-1 rush. Schroeder made the save with her pads.
Dempsey opened the scoring a few minutes later for Montreal. The forward entered the offensive zone and took advantage of her own dump-in to cut toward the net and beat Schroeder with a low shot. It was Dempsey's first goal of the season.
Montreal doubled its lead with 11:04 to play in the first period.
Bujold accepted a pass from her teammate, beat her defender and raced in alone. Bujold made a fine deke and scored on a backhand shot.
David made it 3-0 just over four minutes later. She received a pass from Poulin on another 2-on-1.
Up next for Montreal is a game Friday night in Toronto, which is only three points back of Montreal in the standings and is riding an eight-game winning streak.