Desbiens leads Montreal to 2-1 OT win over Ottawa in front of record Canadian crowd
By Ireland Compton, The Canadian Press on January 27, 2024.
LAVAL, Que. – Ann-Renée Desbiens made 43 saves as Montreal hung on to first place with a 2-1 overtime win over Ottawa in front of a record-breaking crowd on Saturday. Forward Maureen Murphy scored the game-winning goal at 3:30 of the extra period for her first of the season. Laura Stacey also scored for Montreal (3-2-2-1). The 8,646 in attendance at Place Bell set a new mark for a professional women’s hockey game in Canada. Hayley Scamurra scored the lone goal for Ottawa (2-0-3-1), which came into the rematch on a quest for revenge after Montreal won 3-2 in overtime in both teams’ inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League game at TD Place on Jan. 2. Montreal took first place in the PWHL standings after a 2-1 win in Minnesota on Wednesday night. The goaltending stood out on both sides on Saturday, with Desbiens staying true to her nickname “The Wall.” Ottawa may have outshot Montreal, but the home team had several strong scoring chances. Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer pulled out 22 saves – and turned away a penalty shot from Stacey – to hold Montreal to just one goal in regulation. Stacey opened the scoring with a wraparound assisted by defender Erin Ambrose at 13:37 of the first period. While shots on goal were tight heading into the second, it didn’t take long for Ottawa to pull ahead. Despite a scoreless period, the visiting team’s offence had double the shots by the end of the second. Ottawa’s momentum continued into the third as Scamurra tied things up at 6:10 off assists from Brianne Jenner and Savannah Harmon. Murphy later buried her winner to secure Montreal’s position atop the standings. ALL-STAR BOUND Eight players who took the ice will represent the league in the PWHL’s 3-on-3 Showcase during NHL All-Star Weekend on Feb. 1 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens and Marie-Philip Poulin join Ottawa’s Savannah Harmon on Team King. Montreal’s Erin Ambrose and Laura Stacey team up with Ottawa’s Emily Clark, Brianne Jenner and Emerance Maschmeyer on Team Kloss. UP NEXT Montreal: Visits Boston on Feb. 4. Ottawa: Hosts New York on Feb. 4. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2024. 20-19
