Montreal Victoire hoping to wear down Minnesota Frost in 5-game series

After a game that featured a dozen penalties, Montreal Victoire forward Abby Roque paused when asked what she thought about the officiating.

Sporting a black eye after a dust-up with Minnesota Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme that earned matching roughing penalties, Roque said she wished officials could just let both players skate to the bench after minor scuffles.

"There were some that were clear penalties and that’s all good," Roque said. "We know that’s going to happen. But there were definitely some calls that just, let it go. It’s playoff hockey."

It certainly felt like playoff hockey in a physical, back-and-forth Game 1 between Montreal and Minnesota, which ended with a 5-4 overtime victory for the Frost. Minnesota defender Jincy Roese scored the game winner from the point through traffic.

Game 2 in the best-of-five series is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET at Place Bell in Laval, Que.

The Frost will be without one of the team's top forwards, as Curl-Salemme serves a one-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Montreal forward Kaitlin Willoughby.

A review from the PWHL's Player Safety Committee "determined that Curl-Salemme made no attempt to play the puck as she raised her forearm to make direct contact with the head of her opponent, where such contact to the head was avoidable."

Minnesota Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme suspended 1 game for illegal head shot

Curl-Salemme was also fined $250 US for the altercation that led to Roque's black eye. The Minnesota forward "grabbed and pulled Roque's facial protector, sending her opponent to the ice with a degree of violence that warrants supplemental discipline."

It's the first suspension this season for Curl-Salemme, but she was suspended three times last