Boston snatches OT win from Montreal behind Frankel's 53 saves in PWHL semifinal

Aerin Frankel made 53 saves and Susanna Tapani scored in overtime to lead Boston to a 2-1 win in Game 1 of their Professional Women's Hockey League semifinal series on Thursday.

Tapani pounced on a loose puck in the blue paint at 14:25 of the extra period for the first overtime goal in PWHL playoff history.

Lexie Adzija scored in regulation for Boston. The visitors entered the best-of-five semifinal with wins in four of their final five games, including a 4-3 victory over Montreal in the final game of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth.

Kristin O'Neill scored and Ann-Renee Desbiens stopped 24 shots for Montreal before 9,135 towel-waiving fans at Place Bell.

WATCH | Tapani's winner helps Boston secure Game 1 against Montreal:

Montreal finished second in the PWHL regular season and six points ahead of third-place Boston.

Game 2 in the series is Saturday in Laval.

The winner meets Toronto or Minnesota in a best-of-five final for the Walter Cup. Toronto leads the other semifinal 1-0.

Montreal, which caught fire on the power play late in the season, went 1-for-5 in a chippy game that could have seen many more penalties. Boston was 0-for-2.

Laura Stacey nearly ended the game on a breakaway 10 minutes into the extra period but missed high after chasing down a stretch pass from Melodie Daoust.

Keller then put Montreal on the power play by slashing the stick out of Stacey's hands. Montreal, however, couldn't bury a winner past Frankel.

With Boston trailing 1-0, Shirley cut to the inside and ripped a shot that hit Adzija's stick and beat Desbiens to tie the game 1:48 into the third period.

WATCH | Frankel denies Stacey in fantastic Game 1 performance:

Stacey received a pass from Montreal captain Marie-Philip