The Whale return to the Steel City of Pittsburgh, PA this past weekend. It’s the first time they’ve played here since December 2, 2018, where they would get a 4-0 win against the Metropolitan Riveters.
This time, Connecticut would play the newest PHF team in the Montreal Force. Here is how the two teams would line up:
Before the recap, the Connecticut Whale wore special jerseys to honor the Pittsburgh Pennies!
Early in the first period, it would be the Connecticut Whale who would get on the board first. A great offensive forecheck from Justine Reyes would see the Montreal defender turn the puck over to Katerina Mrazova. She would cut to the middle and slide the puck underneath the goalie for her fifth goal of the season.
The lead would not last long, as Montreal would tie up the game two minutes later. Ann-Sophie Bettez would skate up the left side of the ice, and deke the Whale defender. She would slide the puck five hole past Raisanen and in the net. The assists on the play would come from Christine Deaudelin and Marie-Soleil Deschenes.
Two minutes later, the Connecticut Whale would re-capture the lead. While the Whale were on a power play, a pass from Allie Monroe would find Melissa Samoskevich on the left side cutting in. She would feed the puck down low to Alyssa Wohlfeiler, who would pass it back to Samoskevich in the slot, and she would shoot it past Deschenes. A very nice give and go play while on the advantage.
Three minutes later, the Montreal Force would once again tie up the game. Jade Downie-Landry would circle the left point and fire a pass over to the right circle. Where the puck would be one-timed home by Samantha Isbell, as the puck somehow avoided Raisanen’s glove. The other assist on the play would come from Ann-Sophie Bettez. The first period would end with both teams tied at 2 a piece.
The second period would see the Connecticut Whale once again take the lead in the game, for the third time. The goal would come from Kennedy Marchment. It would be her seventh goal of the season. The assists on the play would come from Caitrin Lonergan and Allie Monroe.
However, four minutes later, the Montreal Force would once again tie up the game. Ann-Sophie Bettez would nab her second goal of the game and her seventh goal of the season. The assists on the play would come from Samantha Isbell, her second point of the game, and Brigitte Laganiere. The two teams would head to the third period tied at 3 a piece.
At the one minute mark in the third period, would see the Connecticut Whale once again, for the fourth time, find the lead in the game. The goal coming from Kennedy Marchment, her second of the game and eighth of the season. A shot from the point would see the puck bounce all over the place, but it would find the stick of Caitrin Lonergan, who would feed the puck back to the slot. Where Kennedy Marchment would gather the puck and roof a shot into the empty cage.
The lead would only last three minutes, as for the fourth time in the game, the Montreal Force would comeback to tie it up. Ann-Sophie Bettez would complete her hat trick and grab her eighth goal of the season. A bad neutral zone turnover by the Whale defenders would see a 2 on 1 opportunity for Montreal. Jade Downie-Landry would carry the puck from the left side and feed a nice pass to Bettez, who slid it underneath the pads of Raisanen.
With 19 seconds left, Montreal would take the lead for the first time in the game. Brigitte Laganiere would find herself in the right corner along the goal line. She would fire the puck towards the net that somehow the puck would find the back of the net.
And that would be the final goal of the game, as Montreal would steal it late by a score of 5-4.
Marie-Soleil Deschenes would get the start for Montreal, and she would face 32 shots, making 28 saves; while Meeri Raisanen would get the nod for Connecticut, as she would face 37 shots, making 32 saves.
Next Game:
The next games for the Connecticut Whale will be a Tuesday and Wednesday affair with the Buffalo Beauts, while the next game for the Montreal Force will be next weekend and will see them square off against the Boston Pride.
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