CWHL Playoffs: Clarkson Cup Bound

Les Canadiennes Dominate From Start to Finish In 7-1 Win; Advance to Championship Final

SportsJordan Stoopler — Published February 28, 2016 | Updated February 28, 2016 at 11:28pm

Montreal was lifted by a three-point night from defender Julie Chu and a six-point effort from Caroline Ouellette as they advanced to the Clarkson Cup Final, to be played on March 13 at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre vs. the Calgary Inferno.

“Our offensive game was part of our preparation for tonight,” said Canadiennes captain Cathy Chartrand. “It was not easy. We could have sat back and just waited for the goals to come. We worked to get those goals and it shows that we are ready.”

The Furies were naturally upset following their elimination from playoff-contention but were content with the effort they put forward.

“I’m feeling down,” said Furies forward Natalie Spooner. “It’s never nice to lose by that much. It wasn’t the ending that we wanted, but we tried our best and played for each other. It just didn’t go our way.”

“Montreal is a very talented team,” admitted Furies captain Michelle Bonello. “From the beginning of the year, we felt that the cards were stacked against us but we never used that as an excuse. We went out there and played the best we could, so the girls are walking out with their heads high. The score wasn’t what we wanted but there is not much you can do.”

Unlike the first game in their series, the Canadiennes wasted little time getting themselves on the scoreboard. Caroline Ouellette scored the first goal of the game after deflecting a shot from Chartrand. Three minutes later, Chartrand would score a goal of her own, giving her team a 2-0 lead.

Defender Julie Chu took over in the second period with her two goals and one near-goal. Chu, who arrived midway through the opening period after fulfilling her coaching duties with the Concordia Stingers — her team lost 3-0 to the Université de Montréal Carabins and were eliminated from the playoffs —was initially credited with the opening goal of the period, but upon further review, the goal was given to Ouellette.

This did not deter Chu, who scored twice before the period was up.

“I think I did, yes,” said Ouellette, when questioned as to whether she did deflect the Chu shot. “She got a hat thrown on the ice for her. I felt bad about it. Let’s not tell her though, she needs this right now.”

“We worked hard today and it just happened that the puck popped to me on a couple of occasions,” said Chu. “Good teams have to be comfortable joining the rush and thankfully, I am a forward that somehow ended up on defense.”

Furies forward Alyssa Baldin scored a goal to cut Montreal’s lead to 5-1, but her team’s struggles only continued in the third.

Canadiennes forward Marie-Philip Poulin scored her team’s sixth goal on the game, evading her defenders before firing a shot past the Furies goalie.

Sportsnet's play of the game is this incredible goal by pou29</a> to put <a href="https://twitter.com/LesCanadiennes">LesCanadiennes up 6-1 #CWHL pic.twitter.com/KRWxNE6bF4

— CWHL Gifs (@CWHLHighlights) February 28, 2016

Canadiennes defender Lauriane Rougau scored her team’s seventh and final goal, a power play goal, shortly thereafter.

Montreal is already looking ahead to their date with the Inferno for Canadian Women’s Hockey League supremacy after the game.

“We are really happy with the work we did today but we just have to keep working,” said Poulin. “There is still a lot of hard work to be done before the Clarkson Cup. We are just going to focus on ourselves.”

“We want to go all the way this year,” said Ouellette. “Winning the Cup has been our drive and motivation since the beginning. Our team has gotten better and better all season long. Right now, we feel great, we feel confident. It’s a privilege to make it to the final in this league and now we have to show up and be the better team.”