Markham Thunder @ Montreal Canadiennes, 4-5 (OT)

Erin Ambrose, who was traded from Toronto to Montreal earlier this week, made her Canadiennes debut tonight. She was partnered with Cassandra Poudrier and picked up a couple of assists on the night.

Markham played this game with a short bench. They only had 10 forwards and five defenders dressed for this game. They never led but were able to send it to OT after coming back from three- and one-goal deficits.

First period

Jamie Lee Rattray had some great chances but Montreal got on the board first. Halfway through the period, Jordana Peroff took a hit along the boards from Jessica Hartwick. She was injured on the play and had to be helped off the ice (she couldn’t put weight on her right leg). She didn’t return. Karell Emard scored on the ensuing power play after some pretty passing, tipping in a point shot from Poudrier. Ambrose registered an assist on the play.

Just 32 seconds later, Montreal struck again. Emard capitalized on a bad change by Markham, turning a pass from Ann-Sophie Bettez into a two-on-one. She passed to Marion Allemoz, who made no mistake on the shot.

Second period

The bulk of the second period was all Montreal. The Thunder had trouble getting past the neutral zone. When they did make it into the Canadiennes zone, the defenders were mostly able to limit the shots to the outside until late in the period.

Markham got on the powerplay early in the period but the best chance on the PP was from Katia Clement-Heydra. She took the puck from her own zone, danced around a couple Thunder players, and forced Erica Howe to make a great save.

Montreal got up 3-0 on a great give-and-go play between Bettez and Emard. Bettez got turned around at the Markham blueline, passed it to Emard, who passed it back to Bettez for the easy tap-in in front of the net.

The Thunder were able to claw back into the game at the end of the second, though. Laura McIntosh found Rattray streaking into the zone. Rattray made a great move on the partial break to beat Emerance Maschmeyer.

Jamie Lee Rattray beats Maschmeyer and gets the @ThunderCWHL on the board pic.twitter.com/77Hw5af2bQ — Women's Hockey Gifs (@CWHLHighlights) December 16, 2017

McIntosh and Rattray connected less than two minutes later, this time on the powerplay. McIntosh made a great cross-ice pass to find Rattray on the backdoor.

Kristen Richards finds Rattray on the backdoor, @ThunderCWHL are back within one. pic.twitter.com/xdaM7Kg9Wg — Women's Hockey Gifs (@CWHLHighlights) December 16, 2017

Third period

Markham got another early powerplay and this time they made no mistake: Rattray had a great zone entry and passed off to Kristen Richards, who was able to put it past Maschmeyer. Tie game.

Jamie Lee Rattray walks into the zone and finds Kristen Richards. @ThunderCWHL ties it up against Montreal. pic.twitter.com/Lp3EOXPFrv — Women's Hockey Gifs (@CWHLHighlights) December 17, 2017

After tying it up, Markham undid their efforts and took three straight penalties. Cathy Chartrand was able to score on the 5-on-3 to retake the lead.

Markham was able to tie it up again late in the third. McIntosh made a great pass to Richards, who put it above Maschmeyer’s glove to send the game to OT.

Kristen Richards ties it up again for @ThunderCWHL. This game is going to OT. pic.twitter.com/EXm8rcS3nT — Women's Hockey Gifs (@CWHLHighlights) December 17, 2017

Overtime

The comeback was not meant to be, however. Kayla Tutino scored half-way through the extra frame to give Montreal the win. Emard assisted on the goal and ended up with four points on the night.

Three Stars

3. Cathy Chartrand (1G)

2. Karell Emard (1G, 3A, 4PIMs)

1. Jamie Lee Rattray (2G, 2A)

Toronto Furies @ Calgary Inferno, 4-3 (OT)

Toronto was also playing with a short bench: they only iced 10 forwards and 5 defenders this game. Michelle Saunders, who sat out the game with a suspension (for punching Noemie Marin in the head last weekend), also made the trip and was live-tweeting the game for the Furies. She’ll probably play tomorrow.

Like Markham, the Furies ended up going down 3-0. Like Markham, the Furies mounted a come-back and clawed back within one goal by the end of the second period.

Calgary got off to an early lead when Kayla Gardner scored just 94 seconds into the first period. Jacquie Pierri scored on the PP mid-way through the first period to put Calgary up 2-0.

Gardner scored another early goal for Calgary at the start of the second period, this time scoring 2:07 into the period. Toronto only took 1:43 to respond, though. Jenna Dingeldein fed Carolyne Prevost to start the comeback.

So I’m not gonna lie...I may have flipped a table during intermission and The Furies have scored!!! Dingles to Prevost!!!! Making it 3-1 — Toronto Furies (@TorontoCWHL) December 17, 2017

With just 0.7 seconds left in the period, Brooke Beazer scored to bring the Furies within one. Saunders will not get credit with an actual assist but I’m giving her a spiritual one:

Anddd with 0.7 seconds we are now at 3-2. Beazer from Gaskin and Vella....coaches everywhere take note the table flip works!! — Toronto Furies (@TorontoCWHL) December 17, 2017

Guys there was a turkey toss at intermission....being suspended has never been so lit — Toronto Furies (@TorontoCWHL) December 17, 2017

Prevost got on the board again in the third period. In what was apparently her third breakaway of the game, she managed to put the puck past Toni Ross while shorthanded and tie the game back up.

Just like Markham, though, Toronto couldn’t eke out the win. Iya Gavrilova scored the dagger with less than a minute left in OT.

Three stars

3. Kayla Gardner (2G)

2. Carolyne Prevost (2G)

1. Iya Gavrilova (1G)

Notes

Forward Julie Allen is no longer listed on the team’s official roster at their website. She last played in the Furies final game in China, where she was the third shooter in their 3-2 loss to the Vanke Rays. Allen is one game shy of 80 regular season CWHL games, all with Toronto. If more information becomes available, we’ll certainly update you on the situation.