Boston’s Frankel makes record 53 saves
Aerin frankel’s record-setting performance gave her team a chance. And susanna tapani made sure that boston didn’t waste that herculean effort with a historic goal.
tapani scored at 14:25 of overtime to give boston a 2-1 victory over host montreal in game 1 of their pwhl playoff series thursday night in laval, Quebec.
game 2 of the best-of-five series is saturday at place bell in montreal.
tapani scored the first playoff ot winner in pwhl history.
the visitors entered the series with wins in four of their final five games, including a 4-3 victory over montreal in the final game of the regular season. montreal finished second in the pwhl regular season, six points ahead of third-place boston.
the winner meets toronto or minnesota in a best-of-five final for the walter cup. toronto leads the other semifinal, 1-0.
montreal went 1 for 5 on the power play in a chippy game. boston was 0 for 2.
the hosts were the dominant team throughout the contest, outshooting boston, 12-2, in the first period, and 54-26 for the game.
but despite its overwhelming shot advantage, montreal was stymied by frankel.
the former northeastern All-American netminder was immense, finishing with a PWHL-record 53 saves.
montreal did take the game’s first lead, 1:07 into the second period, on Kristin o’neill’s tally. but boston tied it just 1:48 into the third, on the first boston goal by late-season pickup lexie Adzija, with assists to sophie shirley and gigi marvin. the defenseman went to the net and deflected shirley’s shot home.
Despite being outshot, 18-8, in the third, frankel was impregnable, and the game went to overtime.
laura stacey nearly ended it on a breakaway 10 minutes into the extra period, but she missed high.