Montreal Canadiennes trounce Toronto Furies in playoff opener

Montreal Canadiens chief executive Geoff Molson and CWHL Comissioner Brenda Andress pose with Montreal Stars players. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

The Canadiennes de Montreal, Montreal’s pro women’s hockey team, opened their best-of-three semifinal against the Toronto Furies with a convincing 5-1 win.

Forward Marie-Philip Poulin netted two goals and two assists while goalie Charline Labonté made 14 saves on 15 shots to backstop the team to the win.

The two teams face off again Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard for what could be the deciding game in the series. The game will be broadcast on Sportsnet 360.

The winner of the series goes on to compete for the Clarkson Cup, the top prize awarded by the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa March 11 to 13.