Jincy Roese found herself in possession of the puck near the top of the offensive zone, maneuvering her way towards the center of the ice. Spotting Laura Stacey and Abby Roque positioned in front of her, Roese was focused on one thing – ensuring the puck made its way through. The 28-year-old defenseman for the Minnesota Frost seized the opportunity and netted her inaugural goal in Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) playoffs just 4 minutes and 30 seconds into overtime. This crucial goal secured a 5-4 victory for the Frost over the Montreal Victoire in the first game of their semifinal series held in Laval, Quebec.
Roese, who joined Minnesota from the New York Sirens at the trade deadline in late March, celebrated her first goal after playing seven games with the team. Minnesota coach Ken Klee praised Roese’s versatility and impact on the team, highlighting her exceptional skating abilities and adaptability to various roles on the ice.
The victory in Game 1 handed the Frost a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series, snatching the home-ice advantage from the regular-season champion Victoire. This marked the third consecutive year that the Victoire surrendered home-ice advantage in the opening game of their playoff series. The loss extended Montreal’s playoff struggles, with seven defeats in their last eight playoff matches over three seasons, including four losses on home ice.
Laura Stacey, a key player for Montreal, emphasized the team’s focus on the present moment and moving forward from past setbacks. Noteworthy contributions in the game came from Katy Knoll, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Grace Zumwinkle, and Sidney Morin for the Frost, while Laura Stacey and Shiann Darkangelo found the back of the net for Montreal. The intense matchup saw a flurry of goals, with seven out of nine total goals scored after the first period.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred late in the second period when Britta Curl-Salemme of the Frost received a major penalty and game misconduct for a hit to the head. Despite the setback, Minnesota rallied, showcasing a resilient team mentality and seizing crucial moments to secure the win.
The upcoming Game 2 between the Frost and the Victoire promises to be another thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to claim victory in this tightly contested series.
The Montreal Victoire and the Minnesota Frost will face off in Game 2 on Tuesday night at Place Bell, setting the stage for another exciting chapter in their playoff showdown.