Your Boston Fleet took their modest win streak to the Land of 10,000 Lakes for a matinee matchup vs. the Minnesota Frost at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday. At the end of 60, the Fleet found themselves on the short end of a 5-2 score, but the game was decidedly closer than the final score indicates.
In net for the Fleet was Emma Söderberg, in just her 3rd start of the campaign and at the other sheet it was Nicole Hensley making her 5th start between the pipes for the Frost. This game opened up with pace and chances for both teams, but the Frost had the edge in the opening minutes of the first period. Maybe it was being part of Hockey Day in Minnesota for the Frost, maybe it was the fact that both teams wanted to get home to watch some NFL playoff games? No matter the reason, with these two teams, it’s always an entertaining and up tempo tilt.
As is often the case, when one team is dominating zone time and possession (The Fleet for a long possession sequence in the Frost zone at the 10min mark), when they don’t capitalize it comes back to bite you. Once MIN got a whistle, the Frost got it going off of transition. Michela Cava brought the puck into the Fleet zone and toe-dragged around a Fleet defender before finding Taylor Heise at the top of the LW circle. Heise skated to her right to improve her angle and beat Söderberg over the glove and shoulder top corner.
Just 1:26 later, the Frost doubled up their lead when Brooke McQuigge put home a rebound into a wide open net. Mellissa Channel-Watkins put a shot on net from the top of the LW circle and Söderberg kicked the puck out to her left, but right onto McQuigge’s blade. From 6ft out, none of these players are going to miss and McQuigge buried the rebound.
That score held until the first intermission with the Fleet seeming to get the better of the offensive zone time as the time wound down. The 2nd saw the zone time even out as the teams traded multiple icings. It was a Frost icing just about midway that helped put the Fleet on the board. After a sustained sequence in the MIN zone, Alina Müller carried to the LW circle and laid it across to Hilary Knight who buried the one-timer. Down by a goal courtesy of the captain!
Sorry but the Fleet did not share a video of Knight’s goal.
A great response shift by the Frost saw Heise get her 2nd of the game. Cava from behind the net saw Heise dropping down the slot and fed her directly onto her tape, Heise’s heavy wrister beat Söderberg under the glove and it was back to a 2-goal lead.
Early in the 3rd, Susanna Tapani’s goal put the Fleet back within striking distance when she put home a doorstep rebound. Knight put a shot on net from the RW circle and Hannah Bilka got the re-direct on the puck at the right post. The puck rebounded to Tapani driving the net and she punched home her 5th of the year. Say it with me: Good things happen when you go to the net!
Less than 3 mins later, the most popular PWHL player in our house got her first as a professional. Sophie Jaques put on a clinic with her possession, keeping the puck in the zone and finding space in the BOS zone. As she dropped down the LW, Katy Knoll found space in the slot and opened up for Jaques’ pass. Onto the tape and into the back of the net. I don’t know who was happier, Knoll or my daughter who was watching the game. Like she tells people at school, she doesn’t just know Katy Knoll, they’re friends (imagine that statement with the sass and attitude of an 8 year old)
The game picked up in pace as the clock wound past the 10min mark. The Fleet were pushing for offensive chances down by 2 goals and the Frost were matching the tempo looking for more. A loose puck in the neutral zone was gobbled up by Kendall Coyne-Schofield and with a half step she was gone. Talk about acceleration! Coyne-Schofield flew into the BOS zone and beat Söderberg under the arm to add to her league leading point total. Coyne-Schofield’s dagger put this one out of reach and held for the final score.
The Frost will host the Toronto Sceptres on Tuesday while the Fleet are off until the NY Sirens come to the Tsongas Center in Lowell on Friday. I’ll be in the building with the family and it will be good to see the Fleet go in person.
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