Zoe Hickel scored twice and Brianna Decker put in the game winner as the Calgary Inferno beat Les Canadiennes de Montreal 5-2 and are the 2019 Clarkson Cup Champions at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto on Sunday.
Ann-Sophie Bettez recorded two goals for Les Canadiennes in the loss.
This was the third meeting in the Clarkson Cup for the two teams with Calgary beating Montreal 8-3 in 2016, and the next year Montreal beat Calgary 3-1.
It was all Inferno in the first period as Calgary out shot Montreal 11-6. A blast by Blarye Turnbull was redirected in the slot by Hickel and past Emerance Maschmeyer at 7:59 of the first period.
Five minutes later it was Halli Krzyzaniak with a shot from the point, that was able to sneak past the Les Canadiennes’ goaltender.
Two quick goals by the Inferno did not seem to stun Maschmeyer as Brianne Jenner had a breakaway shortly after the second goal. However, the goalie was able to stand tall and face Jenner straight on who missed the net.
Les Canadiennes seemed to find their legs in the second period and they swarmed around Alex Rigsby’s net.
Ann-Sophie Bettez was able to put a backhand on target that somehow got under Rigsby to make the game 2-1.
Les Canadiennes couldn’t stay out of the box and that led to the Inferno having increased time in the offensive zone. A shot from the top of the circle by Decker on the power play restored Calgary’s two goal lead at 12:42 of the second period.
These two teams continued to ignite their rivalry with some rough stuff, as Blayre Turnbull threw a crushing body check near the Inferno bench that resulted in a five on three at 16:48.
Les Canadiennes made no mistake passing the puck around and forced the Inferno penalty kill to collapse. Hilary Knight made a between the legs pass that went through to Ann-Sophie Bettez for her second of the night at 17:37 of the second.
Just 30 seconds in the third, it looked like Montreal had tied the game but the goal was immediately waved off by the referee for goaltender interference.
Hickel finished off a beautiful give and go with Rebecca Johnston at 6:04 of the third period for a 4-2 Calgary lead, and Johnston later scored into the empty net to solidify an Inferno Victory
Decker was named Clarkson Cup MVP, scoring the game winning goal on the power play at 12:42 of the second period.