On Thursday, January 2^nd the Boston Fleet would return to St. Paul, Minnesota for the first time since their controversial game 4 victory in the inaugural Walter Cup Final. Since then, both teams’ fortunes could not have been more dissimilar. Despite having a contentious offseason, the Frost sit one point out of first place in the PWHL, driven offensively by a remarkably strong start from their first round pick Claire Thompson.  Conversely, the Fleet sit at the bottom of the PWHL standings with a middling 6 points, and a league worst 12 goals in their first six games. Following a night off earlier this week, the Fleet opted to return Aerin Frankel to the crease, with the Frost running Nicole Hensley for the contest.

               The opening four minutes of the contest leaned in the favor of Minnesota in terms of possession and quality scoring looks, despite not having anything to show for it on the score board. At the start of the fourth minute, Sydney Bard would go to the box for tripping Grace Zumwinkle, giving the vaunted Minnesota powerplay its first chance of the night.  With twenty seconds left on the advantage, Coyne-Schofield had a phenomenal look on a tip in the slot but was unable to get the puck past Frankel. The following four minutes saw both teams struggle to establish offense before Minnesota took a two-minute minor for roughing in the ninth minute. Thirty seconds into the advantage, Knight had a similar look to Coyne-Schofield’s from the slot but was also unable to alter the scoreboard. Just past the twelfth minute, the Fleet started to generate momentum in the offensive zone following a strong breakout from Amanda Pelkey, but they were unable to capitalize on their chances. Inside the sixteenth minute, Coyne-Schofield made a great effort to get a puck to the net against Susanna Tapani but was unable to score on the play. The final four minutes of the period saw a flurry of skill and solid offensive zone execution from the Fleet, but they were unable to earn a reward for their efforts as Hensley rose to the challenge.

               Two minutes into the second frame, both teams were working along the perimeter trying to establish possession before Hannah Brandt would be called for a roughing penalty and give the Frost their second power play of the game. With 5 seconds left on the Minnesota power play, Alina Müller made a fantastic block on a Thompson shot at the point that allowed the Fleet to get a clean line change at the end of the penalty. Just past the sixth minute, Emma Greco would take a neutral zone interference penalty that would put the Frost back on the power play. With 20 seconds left in the woman advantage Lee Stecklein and Michela Cava would connect on a fantastic opportunity, but Cava was unable to put it on or in the net. Within a minute of the power play’s conclusion, a Melissa Channell break away would lead to a Claire Butorac goal. Within a minute, the Fleet defense would collapse, and Brooke Bryant would extend the Minnesota lead to 2-0. Pelkey would attempt to answer on a breakaway of her own for the Fleet but was denied by Hensley. Immediately after the missed opportunity, Kelly Babstock would do her team no favors by taking a cross-checking penalty off the puck in the defensive zone. Boston would respond well after killing off the penalty but were once again unable to solve Hensley despite the push. With just over three minutes remaining in the period, Boston would go back to the power play following an offensive zone trip by the Frost. Despite a pair of quality looks, the Fleet would once again accomplish nothing with the woman advantage, and the game would enter its second intermission with a 2-0 Frost lead.

               The opening minutes of the third period operated in the same manner as the first two frames with both teams working into their systems from the perimeter. At the end of the sixth minute, Kaitlyn O’Donohoe had a good look in tight for the Frost, but Frankel was up to the task. Just over a minute later Megan Keller would throw puck to the net, and the Fleet would be rewarded as Hilary Knight would put away the rebound for her fourth goal of the season. Just before the ninth minute was through Coyne-Schofield sprung on a breakaway but was unable to get it past Frankel. As play went back to Minnesota’s end, Sophie Shirley took an untimely hooking penalty and was immediately punished by Brooke McQuigge on the power play. With eight minutes left in the period, Pelkey had another solid look for the Fleet, but was once again unable to finish the opportunity. Just inside five minutes remaining in the period, Bard had a solid block on a Stecklein shot. At the end of her shift Stecklein would take a roughing penalty against Tapani. Tapani would not wait long to retaliate with a goal to draw the Fleet back within one. Less than one minute later the former Minnesota Frost standout would strike again to bring the game to a tie at 3 goals apiece.

Early in the overtime period, the Fleet were able to establish and maintain possession in the Minnesota zone. Both Tapani and Knight had a pair of decent looks early in the overtime, but were unable to bring about the game’s end. Midway into the period Coyne-Schofield was able to use her speed to open up an incredible opportunity for the Frost, but Cava was unable to beat Frankel in a 1-on-1. After trading breakaway looks back-and-forth in the final minutes of the overtime period, the Frost were able to end the game on a breakaway goal.

I won’t lie to you, I mulled over the title of this article for the entire third period and overtime period. The first 30 minutes of this game was dull much like the last several contests involving the Fleet, but as the second half of the game unfolded, I was able to get invested into the pace and play of the game. In terms of narrative headlines for this game, for Minnesota, they did a phenomenal job reinforcing just how great the depth of this league is, with McQuigge and Bryant being key goal scorers for them tonight. It’s a further case study in how well their Pat Burns-inspired system works in this league, and how their super stars are not essential to their success, but they certainly bring amazing visibility and credibility to the league. For the Fleet, Knight, Tapani, and Keller continue to set the pace for this team, but they need more from the rest of their line up. Three players can’t be responsible for more than half of your offense if you’re going to win in this league.

Christian Bergeron