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Dalton Records Hat Trick, Poulin Collects Three Assists to Lift Montréal over Ottawa

February 24, 2024 - Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)
Montreal News Release


Claire Dalton recorded her first-ever PWHL hat trick and Marie-Philip Poulin added three assists as Montréal toppled Ottawa 6-3 at Verdun Auditorium on Saturday afternoon.

Dalton, who scored Montréal's first-ever PWHL goal in their season opener against Ottawa on January 2, now has five on the season, one behind team leaders Poulin and Laura Stacey.

With three assists, Poulin leapfrogs seven players to take sole possession of second place in league scoring with 12 points, three behind points leader Alex Carpenter of New York.

Dalton's first of the game- a shorthanded tally- was scored at 18:12 of the second period, which gave her team a 2-1 lead. The goal was Montreal's first-ever on the penalty kill- entering the game, they were the only remaining PWHL team without a 'jailbreak' goal.

The marker was scored after Dalton intercepted an Ottawa pass in the neutral zone. She then entered the offensive zone, got around an Ottawa defender, then cut hard across the crease before tucking the puck behind Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer.

The forward's next two goals, both scored in the third period, helped Montréal regain two separate two-goal leads after Ottawa came to within one goal on two occasions.

Dalton's first of the final frame, and second of the game, was scored at 8:30 after Stacey and Poulin combined to steal the puck in the offensive zone. Poulin poked the puck back to Erin Ambrose at the point and the defender fired a shot towards the net, which Dalton got a stick on, deflecting the puck in to make the game 4-2.

After Ottawa responded to make the game 4-3, Stacey and Poulin once again created a turnover in the offensive zone, this time just inside the blue line. Poulin then found Dalton who turned back towards Maschmeyer and took a quick snap shot from the circle to make the game 5-3 at 15:25, less than two minutes after Ottawa's third goal.

Poulin's first assist of the contest came on the game's first goal, scored by Tereza Vanišová at 9:12 of the first period. The tally, a powerplay goal, came after Poulin passed the puck to Stacey in the slot- Stacey took a one timer, which Maschmeyer stopped, but Vanišová was first to the rebound and was able to quickly put the puck in from the side of the net to make the game 1-0.

Less than two minutes later, Ottawa tied the game 1-1 off the stick of Akane Shiga. The goal, scored at 10:45, was Shiga's first goal - and point - in the PWHL.

After Dalton's second period goal made the game 2-1, Ann-Sophie Bettez extended Montréal's lead to 3-1 just 2:10 into the third period with a breakaway tally. Sarah Bujold and Catherine Dubois collected the assists on what was Bettez's second goal of the season.

Ottawa answered just over two minutes later with Daryl Watts' third goal of the season, which made the game 3-2. Kateřina Mrázová and Brianne Jenner assisted on the play.

With the game at 4-2 after Dalton's second goal, Ottawa continued to fight to stay in the game. Mrázová got her team to within one at 13:33 with a 5-on-3 powerplay goal.

With the puck on her stick at the side of the net, Mrázová outwaited Montréal's Ann-Renée Desbiens before sending a quick wrist shot over the goal line to make the game 4-3.

Montréal's Maureen Murphy put the game away with an empty net goal at 16:44 after head coach Carla MacLeod pulled Maschmeyer early in an attempt to overcome the 5-3 deficit created via Dalton's third tally of the contest.

Desbiens made 28 saves to earn her fourth win of the season. Maschmeyer stopped 19 shots in the loss.

With the three points earned in today's game, Montréal now has 24 on the season and sits in sole possession of first place in the PWHL standings. They entered the game in a tie with Minnesota for first place.

Up next, Ottawa looks to turn things around on Wednesday when they host New York. Montréal has a week off before welcoming Boston to Verdun Auditorium next Saturday, March 2.

Postgame Quotes:

Ottawa's Rosalie Demers on making her PWHL debut in her hometown: "It was huge, honestly. The timing was right. I got the call from the team last Saturday. I packed my suitcase and headed for Boston with my teammates. I'm really grateful that the coaching staff has given me this great opportunity. We're just getting started. We've got the team for success. We just need to find the winning recipe."

Notes:

Attendance: 3,232 - Verdun Auditorium, Montréal, QC.

Three Stars 1) Claire Dalton 2) Marie-Philip Poulin 3) Erin Ambrose

The win was Montréal's first of the season at Verdun Auditorium.

This was the highest scoring game in PWHL history with nine total goals - Montréal is the first PWHL team to score six goals in a single game and four goals in a period.

A total of 12 Montréal skaters collected 17 points which is the most in a PWHL game this season.

Ottawa outshot Montréal 31-25, including a 12-6 advantage in the second period and 12-10 edge in the third - Montréal had the advantage in the first, 9-7.

Daryl Watts led all players with six shots on goal - Teammate Hayley Scamurra and Montréal's Dalton finished in second with four each.

Montréal was 1/2 on the powerplay - Ottawa was 1/5.

Montréal has now scored powerplay goals in three straight games after going six straight without one.

Ambrose and defensive partner Mariah Keopple finished with a game-high plus-minus ratings of +4.

Dalton is the fifth PWHL player to record a hat trick this season and second from Montréal following Poulin on Jan. 10.

Poulin is the fourth PWHL player and first from Montréal to record three assists in a single game this season.

Laura Stacey's two assists represent her first multi-point game of the season.

Ann-Sophie Bettez has recorded three of her four points against Ottawa, including both of her goals - Dalton has scored four of her five goals against Ottawa.

Ottawa's Kateřina Mrázová recorded her first multi-point game of the season (1G, 1A).

Akane Shiga is the first Japanese-born player to record a PWHL point.

Watts and teammate Aneta Tejralová extended their point streaks to three games.

Maureen Murphy and Tereza Vanišová now have 10 points each on the season, which ties them for fourth in league scoring with three other players.

Ambrose's assist is her seventh point of the season, which gives her sole possession of third place in points among defenders - She entered the game in a five-way tie for third.

Emerance Maschmeyer is the only PWHL goaltender to appear in each of her team's first 12 games.

Montréal has followed all five of their losses this season with a victory.

Montréal (5-3-3-2) now has 24 points on the season and is the first PWHL team to reach eight victories.

Ottawa (3-0-4-5) remains in sixth place with 13 points in 12 games.

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