This Weekend in the CWHL.
Les Canadiennes Defeat the Boston Blades 6-0 (Kyle Wescott)
Les Canadiennes Sweep the Boston Blades (6-0, 3-0)
The Boston Blades played host to the Les Canadiennes de Montreal this weekend, after having a bye week the Blades had some time to prepare for Montreal. In game one Montreal came out as they do in all their games, firing on all cylinders! Ann-Sophie Bettez had a phenomenal game netting two goals the first just 1:15 into the first period. Montreal piled up 42 shots on net throughout the contest and received goals from five different players including Marie-Philip Poulin and Cathy Chartrand. Boston would play a tough second period and hold Montreal scoreless but two third period goals would give Les Canadiennes a 6-0 win in game one. Boston managed only 11 shots on net throughout the game while counting on Genevieve Lacasse to stop 36 shots on 42 shots.
Although Boston has struggled this season they have played better in game two of the series against their opponents. Maybe it is playing in Lowell, or just the early start but throughout the season those games have been much closer. This one saw a better start for Boston as they held Les Canadiennes in check for the first half of the first period. Caroline Ouellette and Marie-Philip Poulin got together close to midway through the period and connected to give Montreal a 1-0 lead. Boston would get some chances in the first but could not get it past Sydney Aveson, making her second start in as many days for Montreal. Boston would again rely on Lacasse as they have done all season long to come up big in this matchup. Les Canadiennes would put 59 shots on net and Lacasse would stop all but three. Montreal is a very talented team and continued to display a wealth of skill throughout the series against Boston. The Blades are in a rebuilding season, and although these games are decisive in the first and/or second period the team never quits and as a fan that is one of the greatest things to see in sports.
Personally Montreal is my favorite to win it all, they have shown a tremendous amount of grit so far in the season and still have the least amount of games played in the CWHL. Calgary is great and Brampton is dangerous but Montreal is the team to beat if the season ended today!
Calgary Inferno Sweep the Toronto Furies (5-2, 3-2)
After a tough series with Brampton last weekend the Calgary Inferno were on the road to redemption this weekend and standing in their way were the Toronto Furies. In last weekends contest Brampton took two games and crucial points from Calgary, as the Thunder would win game one in overtime and game two in a shootout. The Inferno has been sitting atop the CWHL standings for most of the season but the losses brought Montreal and Brampton within two points of Calgary.
In game one, the Furies struggled to keep up with the Inferno; Calgary peppered shots on net and spend an impressive amount of time in the attacking zone. Jessica Campbell controlled momentum for Calgary with her line firing shots on Christina Kessler. Toronto would let up 32 shots on goal but the offense was too much for the Furies as Calgary would take this one 5-2. Delayne Brian and the defense were great for Calgary, preventing shots on goal and putting their body on the line, that kind of unselfish play contributed to this win for the Inferno.
Toronto came out in game two and controlled momentum to start, a different look than the team that came onto the ice the night prior. Natalie Spooner fired a shot that was blocked away by Brian that would’ve given the Furies an early lead. Later in the first, Bailey Bram got the pass from Jill Saulnier and stuck it past Kessler to give the Inferno a 1-0. Under two minutes later Jessica Cambell scored on the power play to double the lead in the first. Toronto hung in with the Inferno going into the third period the Furies trailed 2-0 and were being outshot 19-13.
The Furies staged a comeback in the third, while on the power play Kelly Terry and Natalie Spooner connected with Kori Cheverie to put Toronto on the board 7:29 into the period. Midway through the contest Toronto still applying pressure would catch a break when Sarah Stevenson would find the back of the net and tie the game at 2. For the next five or so minutes both teams battled back and forth, putting opportunities on net. Brian and Kessler played great for their teams but it would be Brianne Jenner notching the game winner for Calgary late in the third to send the Inferno home with a weekend sweep of the Furies.
Calgary needed these wins to keep pace with the hot Montreal Canadiennes and Brampton Thunder. Although Brampton is on break this week they are scouting their future opponents. The last few weeks after all star weekend will be one to watch, both Montreal and Brampton have been playing well for a few weeks now. Calgary displayed some perseverance they didn’t have last weekend and playing close games like this will benefit them come Clarkson Cup playoff time.
Follow Luis Sanchez on Twitter @Luis_MyW
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