PWHL Boston completed one of the more difficult three-game series sweeps in recent professional sports history. If you’ve ever tuned into a Stanley Cup Playoffs game, you are familiar with the skill, intensity, and effort that comes with one’s hockey season on the line. All those same intangibles accompany the PWHL’s Walter Cup Playoffs and the final four teams left skating in them.
As the NHL’s Boston Bruins manage to hang on by a thread in their second-round NHL playoff series against the Florida Panthers, the women’s pro hockey team from Bean Town finds themselves in the PWHL Finals, first-year edition. How tough was the route to reach those Finals?
Let’s say PWHL fans saw a lot of bonus hockey in this series.
PWHL Boston Stuns PWHL Montreal On Road – Twice
In Game 1, PWHL Montreal struck first on a Kristin O’Neill score in the second period. PWHL Boston’s Lexie Adzija scored less than two minutes into the third to tie the game at one. In overtime, mid-season trade acquisition Susanna Tapani scored for PWHL Boston at the 14-minute mark to put PWHL Boston ahead in the series, one game to none. Tapani was acquired from PWHL Minnesota in the PWHL’s inaugural trade.
Game 2 was one of those battles that will live on in the lure of the PWHL. Two goals in the first 22 minutes, and then no goals at all for almost 90 minutes of game action. Entering the 100th minute of hockey in the third overtime, PWHL Boston and PWHL Montreal continued to exchange punches like Laila Ali in her prime.
Shortly after the midway mark of the 3OT, PWHL Boston would find the back of the net on Taylor Wenczkowski’s score. The goal ended the longest PWHL game history at 111 minutes and 44 seconds. PWHL Boston walked into Montreal and stole both OT games.
PWHL Boston Celebrates Series Win With Fans
In Game 3, PWHL Montreal finally had PWHL Boston right where they wanted them with a 2-0 lead entering the final regulation period…or so they thought. A common phrase around hockey circles is a “two-goal lead is the worst lead in hockey”. That is due to momentum shifts that come along with a team getting that first energizing tally.
PWHL Montreal learned that difficult lesson as they watched the lead slip away after Sophie Shirley’s first goal for PWHL Boston. That was followed by Amanda Pelkey’s short-handed goal, the first in PWHL playoff history to even the score. Susanna Tapani pounced on a rebound just 1:02 into the extra period for her second OT game-winner against PWHL Montreal.
PWHL Boston Walter Cup Opponent Still TBD
Wednesday night might provide some clarity on the opponent that will face PWHL Boston in the Walter Cup Finals. PWHL Toronto currently has a 2-games-to-1 series lead over PWHL Minnesota. Game 4 of the series will take place Wednesday night. In the event of a PWHL Minnesota win, Game 5 would be played on Friday evening in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
About The Author
Christopher Babos is a genuine sports & entertainment journalist with diverse credentials in writing, broadcasting, and digital media. With a varied professional background that includes an M.B.A. in Sports Management from Tiffin University, Chris can speak with authority on the subject matters that he covers. Additional insightful sports articles can be located here.
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