Riveters Fall in Montreal
J.J. Pavlick
11/26/22
Today is Kelly Babstock's 100th professional career game. Montreal's first game at their home rink because they will be playing at various arenas around the Quebec providence this season as part of their Le Tour De Force. It’s the first of six home weekends for the Force who will showcase professional women’s hockey across the province of Québec to celebrate their inaugural season. Saturday’s game will be played at Centre 21.02, the team’s training facility based at the Verdun Auditorium, while Sunday’s game takes place at Montreal’s Aréna Raymond-Bourque. Subsequent matchups will be played at Aréna Conrad-Parent in Sept-Îles (December 3-4 vs Connecticut), Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski (January 7-8 vs Toronto), Centre Premier Tech in Rivière-du-Loup (January 21-22 vs Boston), Aréna régional de la Rivière-du-Nord in Saint-Jérôme (February 4-5 vs Minnesota), and Pavillon de la jeunesse in Québec (February 25-26 vs Buffalo). They honored the University of Montreal Carabins women's soccer team who captured their first U SPORTS national championship with a 1-0 victory over the University of Laval on Nov. 13th.
The Riveters came out of the gate strong earning their first power play of the night just 5:57 into the period, the call was holding on Catherine Dubois. The Riveters didn't waste time capitalizing just 30 seconds into the man advantage and taking an early 1-0 lead thanks to Fanni-Garat-Gasparics. The goal was assisted by Anna Kilponen and Minttu Tuominen. Fanni found the rebound on the doorstep off a hard shot by Anna, she sent it up high over the blocker side shoulder, for her 1st goal of the season and give the Rivs the early lead. Penalty woes continued for the Rivs though when Kendall Cornine was called for tripping just 37 seconds later. The penalty kill would kill it off and along with the aid of Montreal who took their second penalty of the night this time for delay of game on the faceoff, the penalty was on Alexandra Labelle. The Rivs would have an abbreviated power play as a result but couldn't capitalize despite moving the puck well. The Riveters were having themselves a period creating multiple chances by Madison Packer and Regan Rust. Unfortunately, the penalties would start to stack up 11:52 into the period, and the referee called Kelly Babstock for head contact (minor), her teammates would kill the power play off and settle in again before Emilie Harley was called for tripping 18:07 into the period, this time Montreal was able to capitalize scoring a PP goal 19:47 into the 1st period. The goal was scored by Ann-Sophie Bettez after Jade Downie-Landry picked the Rivs defenders' pocket and went it from the left dot had her shot kicked aside by McQuiggie, who came out aggressively to poke at it making the original save on Jade, unfortunately, the rebound found Ann and she fired it into the empty goal with 17 seconds left to the period. The goal was assisted by Jade Downie-Landry.
The 1st period got off on the right foot, but then old habits crept in once again to take away from the improvements made. The team for some reason when the pressure gets turned up or someone misses an assignment they'll overcompensate and misplay easy clearances or overcover an opposing player. I know the team has been working to improve on this and staying out of the box. The Rivs have always been an aggressive in your face team, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Side Note: From the little time I've been around coach Venla Hovi this young season one thing sticks out and it's great to see. She won't hold back, and she will hold everyone accountable. If anyone can fix the penalty-taking issues and clean up the mental errors, it is her. She is the coach you will go through walls for because she will hold you accountable when you mess up and give you the credit when you excel.
The second period was pretty in line with the 1st period we saw each team net a goal and both teams went to the sin bin. Montreal opened the 2nd period scoring with a power play goal by Jade Downie-Landry assisted by Kim Deschenes 7:30 into the period. The goal came off a mishandling by the Riv defender who tried to bring the puck up the middle of the ice right in front of her goalie. It's one of those golden rules in hockey that players know not to do. I can hear my old coaches screaming while writing about the unforced error. The puck slid right off the defender's stick and onto Jade's who made no mistake in capitalizing just feet from the goal. The Riveters got the goal back 18:27 into the period when none other than the league's hottest goal scorer found the puck behind the goal after a great play by Kelly Babstock who picked the pocket of 2 Montreal players and made a great pass to Sarah Bujold, Sarah wrapped around the net and roofed one over the glove from the goal-line. It
was her 5th goal of the season, also her 5th goal in the last 3 games. The assist by Kelly is her 2nd of the season. The score at the end of 2 periods of play was 2-2, the shots on goal 16 - 15 for Montreal. The shot difference has improved this game for the Riveters and hopefully will lead to success in the future.
As for the sin bin, we saw Maude Gelina of the Force enter just 04:57 into the period for delay of game (faceoff infraction), Then Kelly Babstock went at 7:25 and 14:38 into the period her first was for holding the stick and the second was for interference. Babstock's penalty for Interference was a bit harsh honestly, she came to a full stop and didn't extend or create the contact. The two players just collided which happens sometimes. I get the call but don't endorse it 100% given it's a play that has seen refs look the other way multiple times before.
The final period of the game saw Jade Downie-Landry take over as she capitalized on miscues by the Riveters and made the Rivs pay for it. She secured the 1st hat trick of the PHF season via an empty net goal. The fans in Montreal tossed their hats on the ice, a long-standing tradition in hockey. Jade's goals came at 4:04 into the period when a pass at neutral ice missed its target and Landry took it into the attacking zone and went short side again on McQuigge. She netted her final goal 18:21 into the period. Bettez netted one for the Force 12:19 into the period between Jade's two. Samantha Isbell assisted both Jade's goals, and Kristina Shanahan assisted Bettez's. The Rivs got one late at 18:53 into the final period when Kennedy Ganser found some space and the puck was blasted in from inside the crease. Her goal was her first as a member of the Riveters and was assisted by Catherine Crawley and Sarah Forster. The Rivs pulled their goalie twice during the period in an attempt to tie the game. Unfortunately, even with the extra player, they couldn't keep the pressure on in the Montreal zone with 1:07 left in the game.
Game Summary:
SHOTS
Metropolitan Riveters | 10 | 5 | 7 | 22 |
Montreal Force | 10 | 6 | 6 | 22 |
SCORING
Metropolitan Riveters | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Montreal Force | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
The Riveters are once again paying for their miscues on the ice, not protecting the puck, and taking far too many penalties. While they've done a decent job on the penalty kill (81.3%) which is 3rds best behind Boston (100%) and Montreal Force (92.3%) and have league-leading multiple short-handed goals (2) it stifles their momentum and causes them to play a choppy game of stop-and-go. To put in perspective the penalties called against the league looks like this (Toronto Six 26, Metropolitan Riveters 16, Boston Pride and Montreal Force 13, Minnesota 10, Connecticut Whale 5, Buffalo Beauts 4). Would expect tomorrow to see the Riveters forcing Landry off the left dot and make her shoot from further out and other angles. I would look for the Riveters to try and return to the basics, keep the game simple and stay away from the fancy highlight passes and moves. This is the team's first 2 game-losing streak of the season, I expect them to bounce back tomorrow in yet another new arena. The Riveters played hard and came close to exploding in goals numerous times, and for the first time kept the shot advantage to a competitive level. If they can clean up the penalties and play a more puck-controlled game, they most likely win yesterday's game and could even be undefeated at this point. **The official scoring on some of the goals and assists had errors, expect the league to update it after the games this weekend. **