Boston Fleet wins in a shootout over New York, 3-2

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On Friday night, the Boston Fleet was back at Tsongas Center to face the New York Sirens in front of their biggest crowd to date (5,912) in an important game before the break. A Boston victory would catapult the team into the top four heading into the break. For New York, keeping pace with the teams in front of them in the standings is their priority

The starting goalies for Friday night’s game were. Connie Schroeder (6-3-0, 2.00 GAA, 714%) for New York and for the Fleet, Arein Frankel (5-3-1, 2.01 GAA, 667%). A fast-moving first period saw chances for both sides and there was one penalty called. It was to Boston’s Hannah Brandt for boarding at 19:04 and it led to the game’s first goal. Alina Muller notched her second of the year at 19:47. The goal was shorthanded, which meant it was a “jailbreak goal” for the Fleet, their first of the year. Muller stole the puck at her own blueline, beat the Sirens defender, and from right to left side found the back of the net on the far side right past Schroeder. 1-0 Fleet. Shots were 16-6 in favor of Boston as they had the better chances in the first twenty minutes.

Because of the Jailbreak goal the second period started at even strength. Boston jump-started the period with lots of time in the New York zone. However, all it got them was another penalty. This one to Sophie Shirley holding the stick at 2:21. Boston took care of that disadvantage. New York was now 0-2 and are 10-for-43 on the year with the person-advantage. The Fleet penalty was 5-for-42. Boston’s first power play became a four-minute power play based on a video review. It was on Jade-Downie Landry for attempted spearing at 4:34 and 5;12. As the period moved forward, play started to get chippy. For the period, there were eight infractions, four for each team. There were no power play or jailbreak goals. After two, the Fleet maintained their 1-0 lead. Shots in the period were 11-8 Boston and the two-period totals were 27 for Boston and 14 for New York.

The third period started with the Fleet pinning New York in their own zone. It would pay off for Boston as they increased their lead to 2-0 on a goal by Hannah Bilka, her fourth of the year at 2:48. Megan Keller and Sydney Bard picked up the assists. Boston’s power play, which to this point was 0-4, had another chance. Chloe Aurard for New York went off for interference at 6:42. The penalties kept coming and with 7:10 left, there were 14 penalties called. Neither team was willing to give an inch which led to some physical confrontations between players on both sides. New York made it a one-score game at 14:36 on a 4-on-4 situation. Ella Shelton stuffed home a pass from Sarah Fillier for her 3rd of the season. It was now a 2-1 game with three minutes left.

With 2:25 left New York pulled their goalie. It worked and tied the game at 2-2. It was Shelton’s second of the night and fourth of the season at 17:59. Abby Roque and Taylor Girard got assists. Park, on the right side of the net, took a pass and beat Frankel to tie the game. Shots were 10-10. Boston had 37 through three periods. New York had 24 through three. The Fleet defense broke down for a three-minute stretch and it cost them a regulation win.

In overtime, which is 3-on-3 hockey, New York had most of the offensive zone time. They would outshoot Boston 3-0 but could not score. This game was now heading to a shootout. In the shootout, Boston got goals from Muller and Hillary Knight to get the extra point with a 2-0 shootout win.

After the game, both coaches talked about the physical of Friday night’s game. Points were important for both sides which may have led to some of it. New York coach Greg Fargo thought his team did a lot of good things in the back half of the game. He especially liked the third period which he thought “was our best period.” As for playing better at Tsongas Center, Fargo thinks “getting off to better starts would help.” Courtney Kessel said the game at times was “tough to manage.” She was referring to all the penalties called, thirty minutes worth.

By getting the shootout win, the Fleet is now tied for fourth place with 17 points (3-3-2-5). New York is now (4-3-2-4) for 20 points.