Alina Müller scored 18:36 into the second overtime to give Boston a 1-0 win over host Minnesota on Sunday night, sending the battle for the Walter Cup as the first Professional Women’s Hockey League champion to a fifth and deciding game.
The do-or-die game is Wednesday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass.
Theresa Schafzahl picked off a loose puck before she exited the Minnesota end, turned back to the middle of the ice and dropped a pass back to her right to Müller, who skated into the circle and beat Nicole Hensley high over her glove.
WATCH l Müller scores double-OT winner in Game 4:
Forward Alina Müller scores in double overtime and lifts Boston to a 1-0 victory over Minnesota to tie the inaugural PWHL championship series at 2-2. The deciding Game 5 will be played in Lowell, Mass., on Wednesday.
Overturned goal
The goal came exactly a minute after a Minnesota goal was waved off because of goalie interference, bringing a cascade of boos from the record crowd of 13,104 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
Taylor Heise carried the puck down the left side and went down as she cut to the goal. The puck slipped back to Sophie Jaques, who put it in the net as Heise crashed into Boston goalie Aerin Frankel.
“After that overturned goal, I knew we were going to get it,” Müller said. We had more power, more speed. It was on our side.
” … Now we’re going to bring it home and we’re going to finish it. Unbelievable effort.”
WATCH l Jaques’s goal waved off after review:
During double-overtime in Game 4 of the Walter Cup final, Minnesota’s potential PWHL championship series-winning goal from Sophie Jaques was disallowed after review due to goalie interference.
Boston head coach Courtney Kessel said Müller’s determination has been obvious during the playoffs.
“I’m not sure who I spoke to yesterday, two days ago, but they asked me who they should be watching out for, and I said Müller,” said Kessel. “She’s a tremendous 200-foot hockey player who can put the puck in the back of the net. We’ve been waiting for it all year and we knew it was there. Just so happy to see that happen and just watch her grow.”
Minnesota head coach Ken Kleesaid he’s confident his squad can win the Walter Cup on the road.
“We had lots of chances to win [Sunday’s] game. So, for us, we get to play another game and that’s the way we have to look at it. It wasn’t a do-or-die for us. [Losing at home] hurt but now we go back to work.”
Frankel made 33 saves and Hensley had 32.
Frankel leads all goaltenders in the post-season in wins (five), shots against (257), saves (245) and minutes played (523:33). The goaltender has started all seven games for her team this post-season.
Futility on the power play continued for both teams, who entered the game without a man-advantage goal on six attempts. Minnesota went 0-for-5 and is now 2-for-26 in nine playoff games. Boston went 0-for-3 and is 0-for-15 in seven playoff games.
WATCH | Michela Cava’s slick finish secures Game 3 win for Minnesota:
Michela Cava scores a spectacular goal in the third period and Minnesota goes on to defeat Boston 4-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the PWHL championship series.