Boston Fleet rallies for 3-2 shootout victory over Montreal Victoire

Boston Fleet Defeat Montreal Victoire 3-2 in Shootout at Climate Pledge Arena

Aerin Frankel allowed just one goal in a shootout as the Boston Fleet overcame the Montreal Victoire 3-2 during the Professional Women's Hockey League's Takeover Tour at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday.

After Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin scored on the first shootout attempt, Frankel denied the next three shots, securing the win for Boston (2-1-1-4).

The game had ended 2-2 after regulation and a five-minute overtime, with 12,608 spectators in attendance. Montreal (3-2-1-1) had initially led 2-0 in the first period.

Laura Stacey opened the scoring for Montreal on the power play at 6:28, followed by Abby Boreen's goal at the 16:28 mark, both players netting their third goals of the season. Stacey's goal was assisted by Jennifer Gardiner and Cayla Barnes, while Boreen’s was set up by Erin Ambrose and Kristin O'Neill.

Boston closed the gap in the second period with a power-play goal from Hannah Bilka at 12:45, assisted by Megan Keller and Amanda Pelkey, marking Bilka’s second goal of the season.

In the third period, Susanna Tapani scored the equalizer at 10:58 with assists from Keller (her sixth) and Bilka (her fourth).

Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens made 28 saves but saw her team’s four-match win streak end. Frankel stopped 23 shots to help Boston break a three-match losing streak.

Desbiens made a critical defensive play late in the game, stopping a 2-on-1 chance for Boston with 20 seconds left and then deflecting a point-blank shot with 1.2 seconds remaining, forcing overtime.

Last season, the two teams split four matchups, with three of those games decided in overtime, including one that went to triple overtime. Montreal had won the first meeting of the season, defeating Boston 3-1.

Next, Boston will travel to Minnesota on Wednesday, while Montreal heads to Toronto on the same day.