Minnesota Beats Boston 3-2 in PWHL Opener in Lowell

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A historic night took place on Wednesday night at Tsongas Center before a crowd of 4,012. The PWHL made its debut in Lowell with Boston playing host to Minnesota. Head coach Courtney Kessel joined the Boston team after a stint as the associate head coach at Boston University. The most recognizable name on the coach’s roster is forward Hilary Knight who has spent some time on the US National team. The opening ceremonies featured the team being introduced to the Tsongas Center crowd. The first puck was dropped by former Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron.

Your starting goalies for the game were Nicole Hensley for Minnesota and for Boston, it was Aerin Frankel. The first goal was scored by Minnesota’s Taylor Heise on a high-rising shot from the right-wing side. The goal was unassisted at 3:59 of the first. Minnesota made it two shots and two goals as Sophia Kunin scored after picking up a loose puck at the left faceoff dot and rifling a shot past Frankel under the crossbar. The time of that goal was 7:51. The lone assist went to Brittyn Fleming. The period was not halfway over and Boston was in an early hole. Boston’s best chance of the period came with 6:11 left as Hannah Brandt was stopped at the goalmouth by Hensley. The first penalty of the game went to Minnesota Lee Stecklein went off for hooking at 15:24. The powerplay yielded zero shots and the first period ended with Minnesota up 2-0. Shots for the first period was 11-7 in favor of Boston.

Minnesota got an early power play in the second as Jessica Digirolamo went off for delay of game at 2:17. Boston took care of it and it was back to 5-on-5 hockey. At 12:01 history was made as Boston scored their first goal in the league. Theresa Schafzahl scored the first-ever goal from between the dots. The assist went to Sophie Shirley at 7:59. Minnesota came right back and regained their two-goal advantage as Grace Zumwinkle got her first at 8:54 from Natalie Buchbinder. Hensley made some impressive saves in the second period. Loren Gabel of Boston was stopped twice and with a second left, and Hilary Knight fired one from the left faceoff circle that Hensley gloved. Minnesota left the ice with a 3-1 lead. Shots after periods were 22-14 Boston.

Boston almost made it a one-goal game thirty seconds in. But after a video review, it was determined the puck never crossed the goal line. Boston would get a power play chance at 4:38 as Liz Schepers went off for interference. Boston would hit a post once during the power play, then right after it. But no goal. With 12:28 left, they needed two goals at least to give themselves a chance. Boston received another power play chance as Stecklein went off for hooking at 11:10. The Boston power play could not convert and was now 0-for-3 on the night. Boston continued to put shots on goal but Hensley stopped them all. Boston also pulled their goalie with over three minutes left in a last-ditch effort to tie the game. It would produce another power play as Stecklein went off for tripping at 17:01. This time Boston would cash in as Megan Keller scored with assists from Alina Muller and Sidney Morin at 17:20. Boston would pepper the net in the final minutes but could not get the tying goal. The final score was Minnesota 3 and Boston 2.

The post-game comments were more about what this night meant than the game itself. Boston head coach Courtney Kessel called Tsgonas Center an “amazing facility. “Captain Hilary Knight said, “It was magical.” Head coach Ken Klee from Minnesota thought his team competed and made plays. When asked about his goalie Aerin Frankel “She was outstanding.” Boston returns to Profesional Women’s Hockey League action on Monday facing Ottowa at 6 PM.