Minnesota Spoils Boston Fleet Home Opener With a 2-1 Win

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On Wednesday night the long-awaited return of the Boston Fleet (0-2-0) took place in front of a sold-out crowd at Tsongas Center. Their opposition was the team that won the Walker Cup on Tsongas Center ice last May, The Minnesota Frost (1-0-1) the defending champs were here for all of the opening night fun.

Before puck drop, the 2024-25 team was introduced to the crowd. The bond that was established between fans and players was back. The Boston Fleet was back in the house and the fans welcomed them back with open arms. For the Frost, making her first start of the season in net was Maddie Rooney. For the Fleet, Aerin Frankel was between the pipes. It would take all of 1:20 for the game’s first penalty to be called. Denisa Křížová of the Fleet was sent off for tripping. It was killed off by Boston with Minnesota getting two shots on goal. The first ten-plus minutes of the game was a reminder of the kind of up-and-down game played in the PWHL Minnesota had the better of the territorial advantage, but the Fleet’s defense was up for the challenge. At 11:57 the Frost was back on the PP as Boston’s Jessica DiGirolamo went off for interference. After the Fleet killed off their second-player disadvantage, Hillary Knight was sent in all alone on Rooney (19 saves on 20 shots). The Frost goaltender made the glove save. It was Boston’s best chance of the period.

As was the case during last spring’s Walker Cup final, Minnesota would have stretches where they were in complete control of the play. Such was the case late in the first period with the Frost buzzing around the Fleet net. Frost winger Britta Curl from the bottom of the right circle rang one off the post. The first period ended scoreless with Minnesota outshooting Boston by a 9-7 count.

The second period started with Boston on the penalty kill for the third time. Defensive player, Emily Brown was off for a delay of game at 19:55 of the first. The Fleet penalty killing was good and Minnesota was 0-for-3 to this point in the game. However, the Frost was starting to tilt the ice in their favor. It would result in the game’s first goal. Michela Cava her second of the year, from Taylor Heise at 7:25 of the second period. At the 17;59 mark of the second, the Fleet received their first power play of the night. Maggie Flaherty went off for a check to the head (accidental). The Fleet power play, which was a problem all last year, had a chance to tie the game late in the period. The Fleet would get only one shot on goal during the PP. It came from Susanna Tapani. The period came to an end with Minnesota leading 1-0. Shots were 11-4 Minnesota. Through two periods it was 20-11 Frost.

Through two periods the Fleet was showing the same problems as a year ago. Good goaltending, and solid defense, but not enough offense. In the first five periods of hockey, Boston has only one goal and that was an early power-play goal in game one last Saturday. That all changed in the third. The captain, Hillary Knight struck on a tip of a point-blank shot by Emily Brown at 4:01. Hannah Brandt also assisted. For the captain, the goal was her second of the year. The Frost took the lead back at 9:22 as Dominique Petrie beat Frankel with a high shot from the left side that found the back of the net over Frankel’s right shoulder. Mellissa Channell-Watkins and Sophie Jaques got the assists. With 8:02 left, the Fleet needed one more.

The Fleet pressed for the game-tying goal. With a minute left, Boston pulled Frankel (27 saves on 26 saves on 28 shots) with 47 seconds left the Fleet called timeout with a faceoff in the Minnesota zone. They would win the draw but nothing came of it. They got one more shot at it after a Frost icing call with 17 seconds left. But it did not do any good. Minnesota wins 2-1. Boston outshot Minnesota by 9-8 in the period. For the game, it was 28-20 Minnesota.

After the game, Minnesota head coach Ken Klee said he thought his team “played real well” and he expected Boston “to push back in the third.” Fleet head coach Courtney Kessel believes her team needs to do the small things. They are making too many mistakes getting into the offensive zone. The Fleet has only scored two goals in as many games. Knight has both goals.

On Sunday afternoon, the Fleet will look for their first win of the season vs New York with a puck drop at 4 PM.