ELMONT, NY – PWHL New York won the first game in the Professional Women’s Hockey League history on New Year’s Day. Now, they’re desperately trying to avoid being the first team eliminated from playoff contention in the League’s inaugural season.
If they are able to reverse their fortunes, climb out of last place and secure the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, then it’s going to take more efforts like their well-played 3-2 win against Boston here at UBS Arena on Monday over their final five games to do so.
“I know this is the most consistent game that we’ve played,” New York coach Howie Draper said. “It’s a thing we’ve been working hard towards and it just feels really good to see them (the players) get there.”
The unsaid frustrating fact here is that it’s taken New York 19 games to get to this point. In each, there’ve been spurts – many times extended ones – of solid play. But according to Draper and New York’s players, this was really the first time they’ve put together a complete 60-minute effort.
“Big win. We needed it. We did. For the points and for us mentally,” said forward Elizabeth Giguere, who had a goal and an assist in the victory.
The win snapped a seven-game losing streak for New York. It was their first victory since Feb. 21 and first in regulation since Jan. 20 in Boston.
“Thank God! Finally! It’s a relief for everyone,” forward Jade Downie-Landry exclaimed postgame.
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Jade Downie-Landry leads PWHL New York with will, skill in crucial win
It was Downie-Landry who led the charge in this one. She had a hand in all three goals, scoring her fifth and sixth this season and assisting on Giguere’s second.
But it’s how she did it, seemingly shot out of a cannon at the start of the game and going full bore the entire 60, that was a difference maker for New York.
“She had a little pep in her step,” Giguere said with a smile. “She was really good and she deserves it. We just tried to have fun out there as a line. With Chloe [Aurard], it was Jade and the two French girls. And it worked out well.”
If there was a moment Monday that New York would like to clone for the final five games, it was how their third goal materialized.
Downie-Landry was crunched to the ice in the offensive zone, the recipient of an unpenalized cross-check. Yet, she got right back up, joined a scrum along the left-wing boards to help win a puck battle, then headed to the net. Aurard, the rookie forward, passed from the wall to Giguere in the slot. A quick pass found Landry on the move for an easy tap-in.
Tic-Tac-Toe. Following a display of grit and determination, there was a pretty passing sequence that resulted in a two-goal lead at 7:14 of the third period.
A combination of will and skill.
“The frustration (of being cross-checked) fueled the competition in me,” Downie-Landry explained. “Then we won a battle together for the puck, and the rest, Chloe drove the net and there wasn’t much I had to do but put it in the back of the net.”
PWHL New York needs gritty effort ‘replicated’ to keep playoff dreams alive
New York needs more of what they displayed in spades against Boston on Monday. New York remains in last place with 20 points, two behind Boston for fifth, and more importantly, seven behind Ottawa for the final playoff berth.
Each team has five games to play. For New York, that means one game against each of the other teams in the League.
“It’s not news to anyone, we have five games remaining and we’re super close to being where we want to be, so every game for us is going to be a battle, all super important games,” Downie-Landry said.
New York must sit on this win for three weeks now. The PWHL shuts down play to break for the Women’s World Hockey Championships, beginning next week in Utica, New York.
But when New York returns, ironically against Boston on April 20, Draper knows what he wants to see.
“What you saw today, I’d like that to be replicated.”