An old rivalry is ready for new chapter
Marie-Philip Poulin is motivated to compete in the playoffs, no matter the opponent.
The fact that her Montreal team will face Boston in the PWHL postseason only adds fuel to the fire.
“It’s going to be even more special,” Poulin said Wednesday at Verdun Auditorium, on the eve of Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinal.
The spirited playoff rivalry between the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins goes back decades.
The PWHL launches its version
Thursday night at Place Bell in Laval.
“I don’t know how many teams actually like Boston in any sport,” said Montreal coach Kori Cheverie of New Glasgow, N.S. “In men’s hockey, women’s hockey, I don’t think they’re well liked.”
On the other hand, Montreal forward Jillian Dempsey was born and raised in Massachusetts. Before the PWHL, the 33-year-old Dempsey played for Harvard University, the Boston Blades (CWHL) and the Boston Pride (PHF). She is also a rabid Bruins fan.
“It’s a weird situation ... I’ve always been Boston over anybody my whole life, but this is my team this year,” Dempsey said.
Boston captain Hilary Knight played for the Blades and the defunct CWHL’s Montreal franchise: “It’s one of the better rivalries in pro sports.”
Rivalry aside, it’s a tight matchup on paper. Montreal finished second, six points ahead of third-place Boston, and they split the fourgame regular-season series 1-1-1-1.
Montreal goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens backstopped Canada to the world championship last month, but Boston’s Aerin Frankel is also among the best in the game.