Boston Fleet Get Win #1, 4-2 over New York

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On Sunday afternoon, before a crowd of 4,002, the Boston Fleet (1-0-2) was back at Tsongas Center looking to snap a two-game losing streak to begin the season. They faced a New York Sirens (1-1-1) team that had won their first two games of the season. For the Fleet, not repeating last season’s slow start should have been on their minds as they prepared for Sunday’s match-up.

The starting goalies for the Sunday matinee were Arein Frankel (0-2, 2.04, .941) for the Fleet making her third start of the season and for the Sirens, it was Corinne Schroeder (2-0-0, 2.00, .940). Both teams had early chances on goal. Off a 2-on-1, Fleet winger Loren Gabel was stopped by Schroeder. Seconds later, Sirens Alex Carpenter was stopped by Frankel from the bottom of the right circle. The Fleet would strike first as Susanna Tapani swooped in from right to left and beat Schroder five-hole to give Boston a much-needed 1-0 lead at 7:31 of the first. The assists went to Sidney Mann and Theresa Schafzahi. For Tapani, the goal was her first of the year. Taylor Girard took the game’s first penalty at 9:45 for hooking. The penalty was easily killed off by the Fleet penalty unit with no shots on goal.

The Sirens tied the game off an offensive zone faceoff. Paetyn Levis, her second of the year, redirected a pass from Sarah Filler at 14:01. Alex Carpenter also picked up an assist. The game was now tied at 1-1. The Fleet’s first power play came at 17:34 of the period. Noora Tulus went off for a trip. The advantage got better for Boston as the Sirens Brooke Hobson went off for delay of game at 19:17 which gave the Fleet a 5-on-3 advantage. It would not take long for the Fleet to score. Sydney Bard got her first PWHL goal in the left circle giving the team a 2-1 lead at 19:17. The assists went to Hilary Knight and Hannah Bilka. The first period ended with the Fleet still on the PP and with a 2-1 lead. Shots were 13-5 in favor of Boston.

The second period started with the Fleet still on a 5-on-4 PP for 41 seconds. New York took care of it and we were back to 5-on-5 hockey with 18:37 left in the period. New York picked up a huge break. Tapani was sent off for a two-minute minor for an illegal hit at 2:45. As was with the Fleet, the Sirens would get a 5-on-3 advantage as Amanda Pelky went off for interference at 6:06. The Sirens cashed in on the PP as Abby Roque beat Frankel from the low slot to tie the game at 2-2, at 6:50. Carpenter (2nd point of the game) and Micah Zandee-Hart picked up the helpers. With 11:47 left we were tied at 2-2. With 1:10 left in the period, the Fleet went back on the PP. Elizabeth Giguère went off for slashing at 18:50. Boston would go to their locker room with the game tied at 2-2 and 50 seconds left on the power play. Shots in the second were 8 for New York (13 for two), and 6 for Boston (19 for two).

The third period began with the Fleet on the power play. While they did not score, they did take the lead a short time later. Megan Keller jumped on a loose puck in the slot and beat Schroeder above the shoulders for her 1st of the year at 1:18 of the third. The goal was unassisted. The physical play ramped up and because of it, the Fleet took an interference penalty at 5:50 as Sydney Bard went off. New York would buzz around the net putting four shots on Frankel who turned them all aside. Boston was starting to take too many penalties. Pelkey got caught for hooking at 8:40. New York put two shots on net but Frankel took care of them. Boston would be shorthanded for the third time in the period as Keller went off for tripping at 13:25. The Fleet was testing fate.

Once again the Fleet penalties killers took care of business. New York was now 1-for-6 on the power play. With the chant of “Let’s go Boston ” ringing through Tsongas Center, Megan Keller added to the lead with her second of the night. She rang a point shot from the left side off the right post and past Schroeder for a 4-2 Fleet lead. Shay Maloney and Tapani (2-point night, G, A) at 17:59. New York, down two, pulled their goalie. It would be to no available. Boston gets win #1, 4-2 over New York.

A happy bunch of Fleet players talked after the game. Defensive player Megan Keller thought it was “super important” to not repeat last season’s slow start. She commented on her netminder Arein Frankel as a person with “no heartbeat” when things get a little crazy around her. Coach Courtney Kessell thought the penalties in the third period slowed down the momentum the team had in the second period.Otherwise, she was happy with the win.

New York head coach Greg Fargoi believed his team got some good looks on the power play in the third. He credited Frankel with making some big saves to help her team out. The team has ten days before their next game and the team is finally home after starting the season on a three-game road trip. He will use that time to work on things that may need some work.

The Boston Fleet return to action on December 17 when they host Ottawa.