Montreal, Boston look to add another layer to historic rivalry in PWHL playoffs
Hockey star Marie-Philip Poulin is motivated by the opportunity to compete in the playoffs, no matter the opponent.
The fact Montreal will face off against a team from Boston in the Professional Women's Hockey League post-season only adds fuel to the fire.
"Every time you have a chance to play in the playoffs against any team, it's exciting," Poulin, Montreal's captain, said Wednesday at the Verdun Auditorium. "It's going to be even more special to play against Boston."
The spirited rivalry between the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins goes back decades. The PWHL will add another layer to it this week when Montreal hosts Boston in Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinal series Thursday night at Place Bell in Laval, Que.
Montreal coach Kori Cheverie, of New Glasgow, N.S., says Boston is a rival no matter where you're from.
"I don't know how many teams actually like Boston in any sport, in men's hockey, women's hockey, I don't think they're well-liked," Cheverie said.
Born and bred in Massachusetts, Montreal forward Jillian Dempsey finds herself on the other end of the matchup.
Dempsey played for Harvard University, the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women's Hockey League and the Boston Pride of the Premier Hockey Federation. The 33-year-old is also a rabid Bruins fan who "grew up with the heated rivalry."
"It's a weird situation, but I've never played for that Boston team, so I have nothing there," Dempsey said. "I've always been Boston over anybody my whole life, but this is my team this year.
"You know it's going to be a great series when teams from Boston and Montreal are battling."
Boston captain Hilary Knight has seen it from both sides after playing for the Blades and Les Canadiennes de Montréal in the CWHL.
"It's one of the better rivalries in pro sports," Knight said.
Rivalry aside, it's a tight matchup. Montreal finished second in the regular season, six points ahead of third-place Boston, but the two sides went an even 1-1-1-1 in head-to-head matchups this season. Boston clinched a playoff berth with a dramatic 4-3 win over Montreal last Saturday.
Poulin finished tied for second in league scoring with 23 points in 21 games to lead Montreal. Forward Laura Stacey and defender Erin Ambrose added 18 points each as part of a power play that found its groove late in the season, and Montreal comfortably held a playoff spot throughout the year.
Boston, meanwhile, was on the outside looking in before winning four of their last five games in regulation to enter the playoffs on a roll.
"We need to continue our momentum," Boston coach Courtney Kessel said Monday night. "We had a great ending and we came on hot after (the world championship break), but this is playoff hockey and anything can happen."
The key for Montreal is clear: be ready to get physical.
"Whenever we play them, they're finishing off every single hit," Dempsey said. "That's something that we know is coming and that we can kind of flip the script on them and be more physical."
Game 2 goes Saturday at Place Bell, followed by Game 3 and Game 4, if necessary, next Tuesday and Thursday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass. Game 5 would be back in Laval on May 19.
The winner will face either Toronto or Minnesota in a best-of-five final for the Walter Cup.
Goalie duel
Within the matchup is a duel between two of the world's best netminders. Ann-Renée Desbiens, who backstopped Canada to gold at last month's world championship, takes the crease for Montreal against American starter Aerin Frankel.
Desbiens had an average season by her standards, finishing fifth with a .923 save percentage. Montreal, however, is expecting its No. 1 goalie to deliver with the stakes higher.
"She certainly is someone that you want to have in the net at this time of the year," Cheverie said. "You can't bet against her. She's a gamer."
Knight time?
Knight holds the scoring record at the world championships with 111 points, but the prolific numbers haven't exactly translated to the PWHL. The 34-year-old sniper had six goals and five assists in 24 games this season and will have to be better for a Boston team that produced a league-low 50 goals this season.
Poulin still expects her longtime rival to be a handful.
"Over the years I've had the chance to sit in the front seat to see how much she can be a game changer in those big games," she said. "You see it in her eyes, you can see how much of a competitor she is."
Notes
Montreal forward Sarah Bujold remained day-to-day with an injury as of Wednesday afternoon. Reserve player Mélodie Daoust can sign one more 10-day contract during the playoffs. Montreal did not reveal whether the 2018 Olympics MVP would be in the lineup for Game 1. Boston forwards Loren Gabel and Taylor Girard are considered day-to-day.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.