PWHL: Boston Returns to Tsgonas Center

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After spending a week north of the border and getting two wins while up there, the PWHL Boston (2-2-0) team returned to Tsongas Center on Saturday afternoon to face PWHL New York (3-3-0) before a crowd of 4,007. The PWHL Boston team was currently in third place when play began. Your starting goalies for the Saturday day game were, Corinne Schroeder (2-1-0, 1.98 GAA) for New York and for Boston Emma Soderberg (1-0-0, 2.00 GAA).

A first period that saw plenty of up-and-down action had only one power play, which went to Boston, New York’s Olivia Zafuto went off for interference at 11:54. New York killed off the power play allowing only one shot on goal. Later in the period, they would score the game’s first goal. Jade Downie-Landry’s first shot from the left wing side was blocked out front. She got a second chance at it and did not miss beating Soderberg on her glove side for her first goal of the season. The goal came at 17:12 of the period and was unassisted. Shots in the period favored Boston by an 11-9 total.

The first two minutes of the second period did not go well for Boston. That’s because New York scored two goals in that time span. The first one came at 26 seconds and was scored by Jessia Eldridge, her fourth of the year. The only assist went to Alex Carpenter, a local girl from Westford, MA. who played her college hockey at Boston College. Her dad, Bobby Carpenter, spent time with the Boston Bruins. The second goal came at 2:04 as Downie-Landry scored her second of the game and the season, ripping a wrist shot from the left wing side that beat Soderberg low to the inside of the right post. That goal prompted coach Courtney Kessel to make a goalie change. Out was Soderberg and in came Aerin Frankel. Boston spent the rest of the period trying to get out of a 3-0 hole. However, New York netminder Corinne Schroeder was up to the challenge stopping all 22 shots she faced through two periods. Boston had the shot advantage in the second period. 11-7 and through two, Boston had a 22-16 shot advantage.

Boston started the comeback with a goal at the 1:12 mark. Loren Gabel scored her third of the season on a backhander at the left side of the crease. She was set up by a sweet behind-the-back pass from Alina Muller from behind the New York net and the assist went to Emily Brown. It was now a 3-1 game for New York. Despite constant pressure from Boston, the comeback did not materialize. Boston pulled their goalie late in the third period to try and get closer. Instead, New York’ Downie-Landry added an empty net goal to complete the hat trick for her. Boston outshot New York 11-3 in the third and 33-19 for the game.

After the game, Boston coach Kessel talked about the “slow start to periods by her team.” She believes her team is “buying into the system.” Overall, she thought her team outplayed New York except for five minutes. Loren Gabel did not believe “we did not get enough bodies to the net.” Head coach Howie Draper talked about being a “fan of the league and fans, it’s been a lot of fun.” Downie-Landry, who became the second player in the league to have a hat trick, said “It was a good feeling.” Goalie Corinne Schroeder who stopped 32 of 33 shots, gave credit to her defense for allowing her to see the shots that came through to her. Boston returns to action on Wednesday when they head to Ottawa.