Boston advanced to the finals of the hockey league PWHL, when the team defeated Montreal 3–2 in the third semi-final. Susanna Tapani scored two winning goals in the match series.
Finnish striker Susanna Tapani scored the game-winning goal as Boston defeated Montreal 3–2 in overtime in the PWHL semi-finals. With the win, Boston advanced to the finals of the first season of the series.
Tapani already scored his second winning goal in the semifinal series. The Finnish striker also solved the first struggle, that time also in overtime. Boston was better in the semi-final series, winning 3–0.
Montreal led the third match after two sets already 2–0 by Marie-Philip Poulin and by Maureen Murphy with goals. Boston, however, struggled to tie the game in the final set by Sophie Shirley mixed Amanda Pelkey with hits.
Boston forward Pelkey scored 1+1 power points in the match, as did Montreal superstar Poulin. Tapani, who scored the winning goal, was chosen as the number one star of the match.
– The beginning was not our best game. The energy was not the same as before and we were maybe a little tired. However, we believed in what we were doing, because we have had our backs against the wall before, Tapani told after the match.
– An absolutely freezing team. Everyone believes in working together and we won again, he continued with a smile.
Tapani scored the game-winning goal of the third game at the start of overtime when a loose puck bounced right in front of him at the end of a counterattack. In the interview, he praised the attack, which quickly started on his own and accelerated even more when Alina Müller sailed from the middle area to a brilliant launch site.
– Müller shot to the back mattress, as we have practiced a lot. The coaches have emphasized that. I went all the way to the goal and just tried to get the puck out as quickly as possible, Tapani revealed in the interview.
Every match in the semifinal series advanced to the playoffs. In the first, Tapani scored a 2–1 winning goal, and in the second, an attacker Taylor Wenczkowski decided a 2–1 win for Boston. According to Tapani, winning even matches gave the team confidence in the deciding game.
– We even joked that we know how to handle this and we believed in it 100 percent, Tapani praised the team’s spirit.
Boston was out of the playoffs for a long time in the regular season, but a strong final season put the team in the championship fight. The series break of just under a month in March-April was good for the team, as the team won four of its last five matches in the regular season.
Tapani reflects that after a weaker period, the break came at the right time for the team and made the team more united than before.
– It was a mental break for us. We got to see friends and some got to visit home. Everyone was really excited when we came back from the break and were able to play together as a team, Tapani said.
– We have been a really close team since then.
In the second semifinal series, Toronto leads Minnesota 2–1. Earlier this season, Tapani moved to Boston from Minnesota. He praises both possible final opponents as strong, but the meeting with the old club attracts the Finnish striker.
– It would be cool to play against the old team, but Toronto has been strong this season.