Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle, top, celebrates with teammates after scoring her third goal during the third period of a PWHL hockey game against Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring her third goal during the third period of a PWHL hockey game against Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Montreal forward Laura Stacey, left, reaches for the puck as Minnesota forward Kendall Coyne defends during the second period of a PWHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Zumwinkle, Rooney shine, Minnesota beats Montreal 3-0 in front of record crowd
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Grace Zumwinkle scored the first hat trick in the Professional Women's Hockey League and Maddie Rooney earned the shutout as Minnesota won its home opener, blanking Montreal 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in front of of a record crowd of 13, 316 at Xcel Energy Center.
Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle, top, celebrates with teammates after scoring her third goal during the third period of a PWHL hockey game against Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
AP
Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle, top, celebrates with teammates after scoring her third goal during the third period of a PWHL hockey game against Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
AP
Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring her third goal during the third period of a PWHL hockey game against Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
AP
Montreal forward Laura Stacey, left, reaches for the puck as Minnesota forward Kendall Coyne defends during the second period of a PWHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Grace Zumwinkle scored the first hat trick in the Professional Women's Hockey League and Maddie Rooney earned the shutout as Minnesota won its home opener, blanking Montreal 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in front of of a record crowd of 13, 316 at Xcel Energy Center.
The previous record, 8,318 was set Tuesday at the sold-out Arena at TD Place in Ottawa to watch Montreal earn a 3-2 win in overtime on Tuesday. Minnesota won at Boston by the same score Wednesday.
Zumwinkle, who scored a goal in the season opener in Boston, is from Excelsior, Minn. and played her collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota. Rooney, from Duluth, played collegiately at the University of Minnesota-Duluth before winning a gold medal in goal for the United States at the 2018 Olympic Games.
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Montreal pushed and set the pace for the game early and had three power plays without committing a penalty through the first two periods, outshooting Minnesota 21-12, but trailed 1-0 to start the third period.
Montreal did not get a shot on goal through the first 11 minutes of the third period. Desbiens finished with 19 saves on 21 shots. Rooney stopped all 24 Montreal shots on goal.
Montreal plays at New York and Minnesota plays host to Toronto Wednesday.
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