CWHL Weekend Wrap Up: Ouellette Makes CWHL History, Boston Earns First Win in 420 Days
Heritage Classic between Calgary and Montreal at Bell Centre (@LesCanadiennes/Twitter)
Game 1: Calgary Inferno 0 - Montreal Les Canadiennes 1
Game 2: Calgary Inferno 5 - Montreal Les Canadiennes 3
MONTREAL - In an exciting weekend for the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), the league did not disappoint nor did the fans. Going into the season, Calgary vs. Montreal was circled on the calendars of players and fans of both teams. Les Canadiennes were looking for redemption for the Clarkson Cup finals loss a year ago, while Calgary is prime and ready to start a dynasty with the depth of their team.
The game dubbed the Heritage Classic featured the top teams in the league, and was played at the historic Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadians in the National Hockey League and longtime supporter of Les Canadiennes. Also dominating headlines was the potential for longtime CWHL player, and former Olympian Caroline Ouellette to hit a milestone of 300 career points.
The teams played in front of 5,000+ fans inside the Bell Centre, both teams sent out arguably two of the best goaltenders in the game. Emerance Maschmeyer got the start for Calgary while Charline Labonte was in net for the hometown team.
In the first period the teams traded possession and fired a total of 20 shots combined on net. Les Canadiennes got the scoring started when superstar, Marie-Philip Poulin finished on a great assist from Ann-Sophie Bettez. Montreal finished with 11 shots in the frame and after back and forth play the teams went into intermission with Les Canadiennes ahead, 1-0.
The goaltenders then became the focus of most of the play with Maschmeyer making some spectacular saves on Canadian National team teammate, Poulin and Labonte responding with acrobatic stops on the Infernos potent offense. Both teams had a power play opportunity in the second period but could not find the back of the net. Montreal again took the shot advantage after the frame leading 23-17 after 40 minutes of play.
In the third Calgary looked for the equalizer and while Montreal continued to take unnecessary penalties, the Inferno could not convert finishing the night 0-3 on the power play. Labonte played phenomenal but Les Canadiennes defense was selfless all night blocking shots and shutting down Calgary. Maschmeyer again was called upon to make some big saves, and she answered the bell each time. Late in the third, Calgary had a great chance to tie the game but a great poke check from Kim Deschenes forced a loose puck and the Inferno could not get a quality look on net.
Ouellette was unable to pick up a point in the game leaving her at 299… for now…
In game two, the series shifted back to the Etienne-Desmarteau Centre where it has been difficult to beat Les Candiennes. However, Calgary came ready to play after dropping game one the day before. Les Canadiennes dominated puck possession in the first period, outshooting Calgary 12-6, but the Inferno capitalized on those six shots scoring twice in the period. Bailey Bram got on the board with her fourth goal of the year to give the Inferno an early lead.
Les Canadiennes responded a short while later when Bettez evened the game at 1-1. On that goal Caroline Ouellette picked up an assist and became the first player to hit the 300-career points milestone in CWHL history. The historic moment was short lived as Blayre Turnbull broke in untouched and snuck one past Labonte for a 2-1 lead for the Inferno.
The teams exchanged opportunities in the first 10 minutes of the second period but neither could find the back of the net. That was until Lauriane Rougeau notched her second goal of the year and equalized the game at 2. After that goal, Calgary buckled down and looked like the team that won the Clarkson Cup a year ago. Bram gave Calgary the lead again in the second and was followed by a Brigette Lacquette goal to go into the intermission ahead, 4-2.
Early in the third, Sarah Davis scored her first goal of the year on a nice feed from Jessica Campbell. Although Montreal would get a goal shortly after on a great score by Karell Emard, the team could not muster a comeback in the remaining 15 minutes of play.
Genevieve Lacasse picked up the win for Calgary while Labonte was dealt the loss. Montreal was 1 for 3 on the power play.
Calgary will travel to Toronto this weekend. Les Canadiennes have the bye this week.
Boston picks up first win in 420 days (@BostonCWHL/Twitter)
Game 1: Boston Blades 3 - Toronto Furies 4
Game 2: Boston Blades 3 - Toronto Furies 2
TORONTO - The series between the Toronto Furies and the visiting Boston Blades was a very interesting one. The Furies had been playing really well lately picking up a pair of wins against Montreal and working their way up the standings. Boston was going in the opposite direction, starting the year giving up 68 goals while only scoring 10. The Blades might have been a little tired of the trash talk and went to Toronto and put on a show.
In game one, Toronto looked poise to skate away the victors taking a 2-0 lead in the period and outshooting Boston, 25-5. Early in the frame, Julie Allen found Emily Fulton four minutes into the game for an 1-0 lead. Michela Cava added the second with less than five minutes less to put Boston in an early deficit. Brian McCloskey must’ve said some powerful things in that locker room as the Blades came out in the second more composed and controlled on offense.
While on the power play, Boston’s Meghan Grieves was on the receiving end of some great passing from Kate Leary and Dru Burns and scored to cut the lead to one. However, on the next possession for Toronto, Carolyne Prevost gave the Furies a two-goal lead again with her fifth goal of the season. Less than a minute later Jenna Dingeldein scored her first of the year to put Toronto ahead, 4-1.
Boston would not go down quietly, Kate Leary brought it back within two with her third goal on the season while on the power play. Boston finished the night 2 for 3 on the advantage and went into the third trailing by two. Leary got her second of the game with Melissa Bizzari notching the assist on the score.
Sami Jo Small shook off those previous scores and shut the door on Boston the rest of the way to pick up the win.
Game two in Toronto started just as game one did with the Furies taking an early 2-0 lead in the first period. On the power play, Michela Cava found the back of the net close to midway through the frame for her sixth score of the season. Jenna Dingeldein added her second of the season and series late in the first for the Furies.
The Blades received a great pep talk in game one following the first intermission that motivated the team offensively, this time the talk was more defensive focused and it worked. In the second period Boston answered the call and got some help on the offensive end as well. Tara Watchorn picked up her first goal of the season to cut the lead to one for Toronto and to provide a much-needed spark for the Blades. Following the second, Toronto held a 32-10 shot lead over Boston.
After keeping the Furies off the scoreboard in the third period in game one the Blades knew they could do it again, and would need to in order to try and get a point on the road trip. Nicole Giannino helped Boston when she scored an unassisted goal eight minutes into the third for her second of the year. Boston and Toronto battled for the remainder of the third and through a scoreless overtime before going to a shootout to settle to contest.
Megan Meyers and Melissa Bizzari scored on the Blades first two chances while Jenelle Kohanchuk and Erin Ambrose missed their opportunities.
Lauren Dahm made 50+ saves in game one and added 38 saves in game two. It was the rookies first professional win and the Blades first win in 420 days, when they beat… Toronto.
Boston will travel to Brampton this weekend while Toronto will host the Calgary Inferno.
