17,850. The second-highest attendance for a Professional Women’s Hockey League game in U.S. history.
In the league’s first-ever matchup at TD Garden, in front of a sold-out crowd, the Boston Fleet and the Montréal Victoire played a competitive, fiery game with PWHL playoffs right around the corner.
With the Victoire and the Fleet sitting first and second in the standings, respectively, their third matchup of the season was expected to be competitive. In the last matchup in Montréal on March 15, the Fleet came back from an 0-3 deficit to win 4-3 in overtime.
This time, the Victoire got revenge, shutting out the Fleet 1-0.
“It certainly was a playoff game. It felt like one,” Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie said.
Governor Maura Healey named April 11th “Boston Fleet Day” in honor of the team selling out Boston’s most famous arena. Several celebrities were in attendance, including former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chára, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White and members of the gold-medalist 1998 Women’s Olympic Hockey team.
The Fleet were dominant in the Victoire’s zone in the early game, but Montréal’s oppressive one-on-one defense gave Boston few scoring opportunities, and the Fleet were unable to connect on the ice in a game where communication was essential.
Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel played well despite the loss, saving 18 of 19 shots. Victoire goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens — who has a .965 save percentage on the year — saved all 20 shots she faced.
“Every game, it’s going to be tough to score against [Frankel],” Desbiens said. “I hope they feel the same way [about me]. It’s just amazing to see how two goalies can be very different, look very different, but still get the things done.”
Frankel was feeling the love in the sold-out arena. The fans, the noise and the energy were like no other, certainly not Agganis Arena or Tsongas Center, the Fleet’s two home arenas.
“[I] got chills hearing my name called, and the fans responding that way,” Frankel said.
Throughout the night, fans held up signs calling for the Fleet to move to TD Garden permanently.
“Both [Tsongas and Agganis] rock,” said Fleet head coach Kris Sparre. “But this one’s three times the size, so you certainly feel that when you’re down on the bench.”
Boston set up quicker and made good looks in the Victoire’s zone in the second period, but Desbiens put a stop to the offense every time.
Meanwhile, the Victoire found ample opportunities in the Fleet’s zone, and ended the second period with 15 shots on goal to Boston’s 11. Frankel’s clutch saves showed those numbers didn’t matter — until they did.
Just under six minutes into the third period, Montréal forward Lina Ljungblom scored the only goal of the game, assisted by forward Laura Stacey and defender Nicole Gosling. With the Victoire’s energetic play, it was only a matter of time before the puck crossed the line.
With just over 14 minutes to tie it up, the Fleet upped the urgency after the shot went in — but the quality of their shots declined. Boston planned less and missed more as time went on.
Sparre pulled Frankel out of the net with just over two minutes to go, but Montréal defended against the extra attacker and held on for the 1-0 victory.
It was a night of scuffles. It was a night of competition. It was a night of her-story, and now we know these attendance numbers can be reached, so let us treat it as the norm. Fans come not only to support women’s sports, but to be hardcore hockey supporters — and the crowd’s passion at TD Garden that night showed it.
“We enjoyed the opportunity of getting the chance to play in the heart of Boston, in front of our passionate fans,” Fleet captain and defender Megan Keller said. “Hopefully, it’s not the last time we’re here.”
