February 14, 4-3 Thunder (OT)

(gamesheet)

The Furies' final game of the 2015-16 regular season was also their final home game of the season. I wasn't optimistic about the crowd but apparently "last game of the season" makes for a more than respectable turn out even with an 8pm puck drop on a Sunday night. It wasn't quite a sell-out, but it might well have been their biggest crowd all season.

The game started well, with both teams getting a fair amount of zone time but the Furies getting the majority of shots on goal in the first half of the period. Kori Cheverie, Natalie Spooner and Sena Suzuki all had decent chances. The Furies even got the first power play of the game when Brampton's Kristen Richards was called for interference.

Unfortunately, just as Richards exited the penalty box, Courtney Birchard sprang Rebecca Vint for a breakaway and Vint's shot ended up behind Christina Kessler for her fifteenth goal of the season. Instead of rallying, the Furies seemed to lose focus for the rest of the period, allowing the Thunder far too much time in the offensive zone. Alyssa Baldin was called for cross-checking late in the period and Vint scored again on the ensuing Brampton power play. The first period ended with the Thunder up 2-0 and more than a few frustrated Furies fans.

Baldin atoned for her sins early in the second by scoring unassisted with a nice little shot up and over Erica Howe to cut the Thunder lead in half. The Furies still spent far too much time in their own defensive zone in the first half of the period, although it did give Kessler the opportunity to demonstrate some nifty glove saves.

Dania Simmonds didn't help the Thunder cause, getting herself sent off for 10 and 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct late in the period (I must admit I didn't see exactly what happened there). Carolyne Prevost had a close chance and Emily Fulton showed off a hard slapshot but the Furies' power play couldn't convert.

The third goal of the game was the direct result of a total miscue by the Furies. They had been hemmed into their own zone for a while when one player, possibly in need of a line change, sent the puck across to the opposite boards...with no Furies player in sight. The puck stayed in and Laura Fortino scored to make it 3-1.

The third period started out with some great offensive pressure by the Furies that led to a delay of game penalty for the Thunder. The power play looked like it was going to go badly when Jenna McParland stormed into the Furies' zone, but Spooner swooped in with a gorgeous steal and carried the puck right back in. Cheverie scored seconds later and there was hope!

The rest of the period got a little chippy as the Furies pressed and the Thunder retaliated. With Michelle Bonello in the box for tripping, Jess Jones looked like she had a clear shot on net that might have been big trouble for the Furies. Instead she elected to pass and somehow that pass ended up all the way back in the Thunder zone.

With less than two minutes left, Brampton's Fielding Montgomery was called for hooking. The Furies pulled Kessler for six attackers and I was just praying we didn't see the move end as badly as it did for the Blades last weekend. It took them a full 35 seconds but the gamble paid off and the team (and fans) went nuts when Cheverie scored her second of the game to tie it up.

The Thunder got called for another two penalties in the final ninety seconds but there was no further power play magic, and the Furies went to overtime for the second time this season.

When it ended, it ended quickly. With two Thunder players still in the box, Rebecca Vint scored a shorthanded goal just 23 seconds into overtime for the hat trick and the win. It was, in a word, heartbreaking.

Three stars:

  1. Rebecca Vint (3G)
  2. Kori Cheverie (2G)
  3. Christina Kessler (38 saves, some of them spectacular)

Notes:

  • This was scorekeeper, announcer, and DJ Gabrielle Chin's final game with the Furies. The team had a presentation for her at the start of the game.
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  • It's a shame this game wasn't streamed, it was probably the most exciting home game all season.
  • We had young singers for the anthem again this week, this time Joanna and Vanya.
  • The Thunder must win both of their games against the Inferno next week to clinch second place and home ice advantage for the playoffs. To do it, they're going to have to cut down on the penalties./

This is the last Furies game I'll see in person this season. It might not have been the best regular season ever on the ice, but it was a blast and I look forward to spending many weekends at the Mastercard Centre again next season.

Next up: Playoffs! The Furies take on the Canadiennes in a best of three series in Montreal. Sportsnet will be broadcasting the second game of the series and if you can't make it to any of the games, CWHLlive will likely have the others.

Game 1: Friday February 26 6:45pm at Etienne-Desmarteau Arena

Game 2: Saturday February 27 5:00pm at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard

Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday February 28 at Etienne-Desmarteau Arena

Women's HockeyCanadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL)