Susanna Tapani scored a go-ahead goal in the shootout, Emma Soderberg made a game-winning save for her first win of the season, and the Boston Fleet beat the Montreal Victoire 3-2 on Tuesday night in Lowell, Mass.
Montreal’s starting goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens left with an undisclosed injury in the second period and did not return. She was replaced in goal by Elaine Chuli.
The last four matchups — and seven of the last eight — between the Fleet and Victoire have gone past regulation. Boston (8-6-4-6) moved within five points of first-place Montreal (10-6-3-5) in the Professional Women’s Hockey League standings.
Soderberg was in goal for the first time since Feb. 16 when she played just one period.
WATCH | Desbiens needs to be helped off ice after suffering injury:
Montreal Victoire goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens leaves the game after falling awkwardly during the second period. Desbiens leads the PWHL in wins, goals against average and save percentage.
Hilary Knight gave Boston a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal from the point with 51.2 seconds left in the first period for her team-leading 13th of the season. Knight has a point in 16 of her 24 games this season.
Knight also assisted on Tapani’s breakaway goal midway through the second period to make it 2-1. It was her 10th goal of the season after scoring only four last year.
For Montreal, Amanda Boulier tied it 1-1 early in the second when she was left wide open in front of the net for an easy redirection of Lina Ljungblom’s pass. It was Boulier’s first goal of the season and Ljungblom’s second assist in two games.
Rookie Anna Wilgren tied it 2-2 late in the second with a shot that went off the post and in for her second goal of the season.
WATCH | Tapani’s shootout winner lifts Fleet over PWHL-leading Victoire: