Poulin scores winner, PWHL Montreal beats New York for first win at home

LAVAL, Que. — Marie-Philip Poulin would not be denied twice.

After her overtime goal in Saturday’s home opener was called back, Montreal’s captain buried the game-winner in a 3-2 win over New York on Tuesday night.

Montreal attracted 6,334 spectators for its first game at Place Bell — and first win on home ice — after dropping a 3-2 overtime loss to Boston three nights earlier.

"It warms your heart," Poulin, a 32-year-old of Beauceville, Que., said. "There's such an atmosphere in the stands.

"Makes you realize how lucky we are to play in Montreal, at home, and tonight in Laval."

Tereza Vanisova started the winning play with a hard forecheck before Maureen Murphy threaded the needle with a pinpoint pass onto Poulin’s backhand.

The woman known as “Captain Clutch” for scoring in big moments made no mistake for her fourth of the season at 13:46 of the third period as the crowd erupted.

“That's what you want to see from your top line," said head coach Kori Cheverie. "To be clutch in those moments, and I was proud of them for that."

Gabrielle David and Leah Lum also scored for Montreal (3-1-1). Murphy had two assists and Vanisova pitched in with her team-leading fifth helper of the season. Ann-Renee Desbiens made 30 saves.

Jessie Eldridge and Jaime Bourbonnais scored for New York (2-3-0). Alex Carpenter had two assists and Ella Shelton earned one, while Abigail Levy stopped 27 shots.

Carpenter and Shelton lead the league with seven points each.

Poulin scored a hat trick in Montreal’s 5-2 win over New York on the road when the teams met for the first time last Wednesday.

In the second game between the two teams, the physicality was cranked up a notch with full-on bodychecks — both open-ice and along the boards.

The hitting