Boston Fleet @ Vancouver Goldeneyes

Boston started Aerin Frankel against Vancouver’s Kristen Campbell. The Fleet set the tone early by finishing every check, out hitting Vancouver 17-9. The first period further increased the temperature between Jill Saulnier and Teresa Vanišová, after a heated exchange led to matching roughing minors; however, Saulnier drew an extra 2 minutes for slashing. Boston’s (league-leading) penalty kill nullified Vancouver’s struggling power play (3 for 38 this year). The period’s shot totals ended at 6-5 in favor of Boston. 

The Goldeneyes responded by matching Boston’s physical tone; outhitting them 14-12 in the second frame.The ice opened up significantly as both teams exchanged scoring chances and powerplays in search of the game’s first goal; however, neither power play could break the tie. After two, the shot totals favored Boston 12-11. 

Both teams exchanged point shots to start the third but it was to no avail as both teams continued to sacrifice the body blocking shots. Within the first few minutes of the period Boston’s efforts struck iron first, at the 3:19 mark into the period. Susanna Tapani and Alina Müller entered the offensive zone on a 2 on 1 with a trailing defender. Tapani passed the puck through both defenders to Müller, who froze Campbell, but she was still able to stop the puck. The puck bounced to the corner where Müller was able to make a diving play, forcing Hannah Miller to turn the puck over to a pinching Rattray. Rattray quickly dished it to Tapani in the left faceoff dot, where she immediately whipped it to a streaking Winn. She ripped an absolute laser beam to the twine. Vancouver responded over the next several minutes with multiple shots but Frankel was up to the task. The Goldeneyes’ efforts drew another Saulnier penalty at 12:2, but despite getting two shots on the advantage, couldn’t even the score. Vancouver finally broke through with the equalizer with 3:26 left in the period. Sophie Jacques sent the puck deep into the offensive zone, where Nurse continued to dominate on the forecheck. She was able to take the puck from the defender and found Miller in the slot, whose Howitzer of a shot beat Frankel, sending the game to overtime.

The extra frame didn’t last a minute. Vancouver established offensive zone time as Izzy Daniel skated and cycled the puck before sending it to the point, but Shay Maloney had her stick in the lane. She tipped it and quickly dished it off the boards to herself before skating alone through into the offensive zone. Nurse made an excellent effort to close the gap; however, Maloney beat Campbell with a quick wrist shot. 

For Boston, these two points put them solely atop the league standings. The headline was another solid performance from Frankel, who stopped 25 of 26 shots. Haley Winn continued to impress as one of the best defenders in the league, not only one of the best rookies. Müller and Tapani each add a point to their strong seasons while Mahoney showcased her growth in her second year. Vancouver received a stellar outing from Campbell. The team created plenty of scoring chances off their forecheck, and showed resilience by battling their way back into the game. Idalski will need to figure out how to get more out of their power play if the Goldeneyes are going to battle their way back into the playoffs.

Boston Fleet @ Seattle Torrent

Boston went to Abbey Levy for the second half of their back-to-back, while Seattle started Corinne Schroeder. 

Boston came out flying, outshooting Seattle 5-1 in the opening five minutes. Over the next stretch, both teams traded shots on goal and continued to finish checks. At the 12:30 in the period Boston took a 1-0 lead off on a Theresa Schafzahl front net redirect. Pejšová skated the puck out of the defensive zone and found a streaking Müller flying through the neutral zone. She pivoted and passed the puck back to Pejšová at the point for a one-timer that Schafzahl tipped past Schroeder. The Torrent responded by firing three shots on goal in the span of 14 seconds, but Levy denied them. Cayla Barnes took an illegal body checking penalty that curbed Seattle’s momentum. Boston’s power play looked fantastic with great puck movement that led to four shots on goal, but Schroeder was up to the task. Over the final minutes of the period, both teams got shots on net. With six seconds left Seattle tied the game. Alex Carpenter went end to end with the puck and buried a nasty backhand to the top corner reminiscent of Crosby (The editor left this comparison in due to a disclaimer on our website about this contributor and Sid). 

Seattle got off to a great start in the second period creating a SOG advantage of 4-1 in the opening two and a half minutes. Like the first period,both teams finished checks and got shots on goal. Crashing the net, Seattle drew a tripping penalty on Riley Brengman for their first powerplay opportunity of the game. The Torrent manufactured a plethora of scoring opportunities with the advantage and put a whopping 10 shots on goal. Levy’s  athleticism, positioning, and reflexes were on display, stopping several shots laterally as well as smothering several quick rebounds at the goal mouth to keep the score even. Under a minute after the kill,  Boston would be opportunists and reclaim the lead. The Fleet entered the offensive zone and made several decisive passes until the puck found Loren Gabel’s stick. Gabel placed a quick wrister and Tapani put home the rebound through a sprawling Schroeder. Seattle would once again respond with offensive pressure, but Boston’s excellent shot blocking led by Tapani, Keller, and Müller kept Seattle at bay. Inside the final five minutes of the period Saulnier would head to the box for the third time in two games, but Boston’s PK was up to the task. In the final few minutes, Serdachny found Mikyla Grant-Mentis open for a one timer, but Levy would make an incredible lunging save. 

The third period carried the energy of the first two frames with plenty of shots, checks, and blocked shots. Both teams exchanged power plays just past the middle of the period. On their second penalty kill of the game, the Fleet only surrendered one shot. Boston’s power play looked promising with three shots generated within 13 seconds, Abby Newhook had a great look crashing down on the net with Schroeder deep in her crease, but wasn’t able to finish it. Seattle had a little more luck. Aneta Tejralová was able to clear a puck around the boards while Grant-Mentis pressured the point, creating a breakaway for herself with her speed. Grant-Mentis went forehand to backhand and tucked it on a sprawling Levy while muscling off a trailing Winn. Less than two minutes later the Torrent dumped the puck in, Müller tried to reverse the cycle on her backhand, but Natalie Snodgrass sealed the wall, intercepted it, and found Danielle Serdachny back door to take their first lead of the game with a few minutes left. Boston threw everything they had at Schroeder. A Tapani shot that hit the post was the closest they came to an equalizer, but the Torrent held on.  

This is a huge team win for Seattle. It has been an arduous season, but Seattle’s depth stepped up with Hilary Knight and Hannah Bilka out indefinitely. The PK was sensational, killing all three power plays, while also winning the game on a jailbreak goal. The Torrent currently have thefewest points in the league with 19, sitting eight points out of a playoff spot. They do have two games in hand on the New York Sirens who currently sit in the final playoff spot. It will  be difficult to close the gap, but we’ve seen some impressive late season runs over the past two seasons (Minnesota, we’re looking at you). Sometimes, all it takes is one win to get a team to rally, feel good about their game, and make a late playoff push. 

Seattle will take on the third-ranked Minnesota Frost Friday night at Grand Casino Arena.The Fleet will look to bounce back Sunday afternoon against the second place Montréal Victoire on the road. 

• Damien Bergeron