Montreal staged a thrilling comeback to secure a 4-3 victory over Minnesota in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Trailing 3-2 in the final minutes of the game, Montreal made a bold move by pulling their goalie for an extra attacker, which proved to be a game-changer. Laura Stacey capitalized on this strategic decision and scored the tying goal with just 2:23 left on the clock.
Following a minor penalty on Minnesota's Maggie Flaherty for holding, Kristin O’Neill seized the opportunity and netted her second goal of the night with only 46 seconds remaining, sealing the dramatic come-from-behind win for Montreal.
Both teams returned to action after a month-long hiatus for the world championships, with Montreal benefiting from the stellar performances of their Canadian players who had recently clinched gold. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey each contributed a goal and two assists, while Erin Ambrose chipped in with four assists. Goaltender Elaine Chuli made 25 saves to anchor Montreal's defense.
Poulin, who played a pivotal role in Canada's gold medal victory at the world championships, made a triumphant return to PWHL action after missing three games due to an undisclosed injury.
On the other side, Minnesota saw their five-game winning streak come to an end despite goals from Grace Zumwinkle, Kelly Pannek, and Brooke Bryant. Sophie Jaques stood out with three assists, while goaltender Maddie Rooney put up a valiant effort with 33 saves.
With this crucial win, Montreal closed the gap to just one point behind Minnesota in the league standings. Both teams have four games remaining in the season, setting the stage for an exciting finish to their campaign.
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