Claire Dalton's Hat Trick Powers PWHL Montreal Past Ottawa, Back Into 1st Place | CBC Sports

Professional Women’s Hockey League

Claire Dalton scored three goals, including a short-handed effort which snapped a 1-1 tie late in the second period, to lead Montreal to a 6-3 victory over visiting Ottawa in Professional Women’s Hockey League action Saturday at Verdun Auditorium.

6-3 home victory moves Montreal (5-3-2-2) ahead of Minnesota with 24 points

Pat Hickey · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Feb 24, 2024 5:53 PM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

Montreal forward Claire Dalton, left, scores a short-handed goal on Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer as forward Gabrielle David reacts during the second period of Montreal’s 6-3 home win on Saturday at Verdun Auditorium. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)Claire Dalton made the most of a promotion to the top line, producing a hat trick to lead Montreal to a 6-3 victory over visiting Ottawa on Saturday in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

Montreal coach Kori Cheverie said she was searching for a different look when she put Dalton on a line with Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey, and the former Yale star contributed to what was “our most complete game this season,” the coach described.

“I learned in practice this week that I would be playing with Pou and Stace and they’re such great players who made it easy for me,” said Dalton. “I can’t remember the last time I had a hat-trick; I never had one in college.”

WATCH l Dalton shines as Montreal doubles up Ottawa:

Claire Dalton scores hat-trick to lead Montreal to victory over OttawaThe Toronto native buried a pair at even strength and a pretty one on the penalty kill in Montreal’s 6-3 win in front of a raucous home crowd.

While Cheverie said she was pleased with her team’s strong start, the game was deadlocked at 1-1 late in the second period when Dalton scored a short-handed goal.

She went airborne, a la Bobby Orr, as she beat Emerance Maschmeyer to put Montreal ahead for good at Verdun Auditorium.

“Any time you get a big goal like that, it gives you confidence,” said Poulin, who collected three assists.

Cheverie said Dalton was able to take advantage of playing with Poulin.

Ottawa, which lost in overtime in each of its first two games against Montreal, came back from two-goal deficits to close within a goal at 3-2 and 4-3 but Dalton put the game out of reach when she tipped home a feed from Poulin at 15:25 of the third period.

“I have to thank my dad who would feed me pucks to work on tips when I was a kid on a backyard rink,” said Dalton. “Twenty years later, it’s paying off.”

It was a good day for the Montreal special teams.

4th Montreal power-play goalTereza Vanišová opened the scoring for Montreal with a power-play goal.

It was only the fourth power-play goal this season for Montreal which came into the game with the worst power-play record in the league, succeeding on only 7.6 per cent of its opportunities. Montreal went 1-for-2 for the game.

Un effort collectif!

VanišGOALvá pic.twitter.com/wsoKNaExm2

—@PWHL_MontrealOttawa went 1-for-5 on the power play, cutting the Montreal lead to 4-3 when Kateřina Mrázová scored while the visitors enjoyed a 5-on-3 advantage.

Ann-Sophie Bettez and Maureen Murphy scored the other Montreal (5-3-2-2) goals.

Ann-Renée Desbiens made 28 saves for the win while Ottawa’s Emerance Maschmeyer made 19 stops.

The win moved Montreal into first place with 24 points. That’s three better than Minnesota, which has an opportunity to reclaim a share of the lead Sunday with a win at home over Boston.

Ottawa is home to New York on Wednesday, while Montreal plays Boston at home on March 2.

The full schedule of PWHL games airing on CBC Sports this season is available here.

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Sophie Jaques on being involved in 1st-ever PWHL trade, adjusting to life as a proHost Rob Pizzo is joined by 2023 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Sophie Jaques after being traded to PWHL Minnesota.

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