ELMONT, NY (February 21, 2024) – Alex Carpenter scored two first period goals and added the shootout winner to lead New York to a 3-2 win against Montréal at UBS Arena on Wednesday.
With her two goals, Carpenter now has eight on the season and five in her last three games.
She opened the scoring just 2:43 into the game, a powerplay marker to make the game 1-0. The 30-year-old center finished a smooth passing play with teammates Jaime Bourbonnais and Abby Roque by firing a wrist shot over the shoulder of Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens.
Carpenter extended her league lead in points late in the frame after Roque jumped on a puck at her own blue line and had a clear-cut, shorthanded breakaway. Desbiens made the initial save, but Roque picked up her own rebound and then sent the puck across the ice to Carpenter, who one-timed it in.
Carpenter now has 14 points on the year, three ahead of Toronto’s Natalie Spooner.
After Roque scored in the third round of the shootout to give New York a 1-0 edge, it was Carpenter once again who put the game away for her team, scoring top-shelf on Desbiens to secure the victory in the fourth round. New York’s Abbey Levy stopped all four of Montréal’s attempts.
Carpenter scored two overtime winners in a row prior to Wednesday night’s game, with the shootout winner marking the third consecutive game that the center sealed two points for her team in extra time.
Despite their loss, Montréal nearly completed a comeback after falling behind 2-0 in the first.
In the second period, Montréal took advantage of a late powerplay to cut New York’s lead to 2-1. On the play, Laura Stacey picked up the puck behind the net and walked in from the side boards, rifling a shot through a screen in front for her sixth of the season. Catherine Dubois and Tereza Vanišová picked up assists on the play.
Montréal evened up the score 2-2 midway through the third period when forward Vanišová drove to the net hard, sending the puck across the crease onto the stick of teammate Maureen Murphy, who directed it into the open side past Levy. The assist was Vanišová’s second of the game and eighth overall.
Murphy’s goal was confirmed following video review of the dislodged net prior to the puck crossing the line. The sequence transpired exactly one minute after video review disallowed a Montréal goal by Laura Stacey due to goaltender interference.
After a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime saw each team record four shots, the game ended by a final score of 3-2 in the shootout in favor of the home team.
The win was New York’s third in a row and their first on home ice.
Levy, a native of nearby Congers, NY, made 21 saves to pick up her first-ever professional win. Desbiens made 20 saves in the loss.
Up next, New York hits the road to take on Toronto on Friday evening at Mattamy Athletic Centre for a 7:00 p.m. ET start. Then, on Saturday, Montréal hosts Ottawa at Verdun Auditorium for an afternoon tilt at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Postgame Quotes:
New York goaltender Abbey Levy on battling for her first PWHL win: “I think I like to say I have a goldfish memory as a goalie you’re supposed to have one. I’m just grateful to get to play the game. If a goal goes in, that sucks, but there’s always another shot coming your way so just have fun with it. We’re all here to have fun. This is our career. This is our life goal. This is a fun life. But goals are supposed to happen— I’m a goalie.’
Notes:
- Attendance: 2,128 — UBS Arena, Elmont, NY.
- Three Stars 1) Alex Carpenter 2) Tereza Vanišová 3) Abbey Levy
- Montréal had the slight edge in shots (23-22) — Shots were 6-6 in the first, 7-2 in favor of Montréal in the second, and 9-6 in favor of New York in the third.
- New York’s two shots are the lowest by any team in the second period this season.
- Carpenter and Montréal’s Laura Stacey led all players with five shots on goal — New York’s Jade Downie-Landry finished second with four.
- New York was 1/3 on the powerplay — Montréal was 1/5.
- Montréal scores a powerplay goal for the second straight game after going six straight games without one.
- Vanišová’s two assists gives her eight on the season, tied with Boston’s Alina Müller for first in the PWHL in the category — Müller picked up an assist tonight against Ottawa.
- Carpenter’s shorthanded goal was her first of the season and the first-ever for New York — Montréal is now the only team without a shorthanded tally.
- Carpenter now has six powerplay points (3G, 3A) and seven special teams points, the most in the PWHL.
- New York defender Jaime Bourbonnais extended her point streak to three games.
- The assist by Montréal forward Catherine Dubois was her first of the season.
- Montréal defender Madison Bizal has assists in back-to-back games.
- Carpenter and Montréal’s Marie-Philip Poulin both took two attempts in the shootout.
- The shootout was the second in PWHL history — Montréal took part in the first-ever against Toronto on January 20, and lost 4-3.
- New York has played four consecutive overtime games – the longest streak in the PWHL this season.
- New York has the most extra time victories in the PWHL with four — Montréal is second with three.
- New York (2-4-1-4) secures two points and is tied with Boston for fourth place in the PWHL standings with 15 points each.
- Montréal (4-3-3-2) picks up one point, which gives them 21 points on the season, and ties them for first with Minnesota.
- New York’s first home win of the season was celebrated on GM Pascal Daoust’s birthday.
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