The PWHL is now on the international break as some of the players in the league begin to prepare for the IIHF Women’s World Championship next month. Boston was coming off a frustrating game against Toronto and needed some points to stay in the playoff race. New York was looking to snap their 7 game-losing streak, and they did do just that.
The first period was a bunch of back-and-forth hockey with few good opportunities, but nothing was getting by Frankel or Schroeder. It appeared this would be a very important 60 minutes and a close game. It wasn’t until the second period that things got started for both teams.
To start the second period, Megan Keller went to the box for hooking, putting New York on the powerplay. Boston has the second-lowest penalty-killing percentage with 81.5% their penalty-killing unit was heavily tested this game. Jade Downie-Landry was able to get one by Frankel on the powerplay to give New York the lead.
It didn’t take much longer for New York to extend their lead to 2, Amanda Pelkey went to the box for slashing to give New York another powerplay and another powerplay goal. It was clear that the penalties were hurting Boston.
Alina Müller gets Boston on the board to keep the game within reach before heading to the final period with a deflected pass heading toward Jamie Lee Rattray.
The final period starts and there is a lot of ground to make up for Boston, after receiving 4 penalties last period and giving up 2 powerplay goals. However, It did not take long for another penalty. Gigi Marvin goes to the box for cross-checking, giving New York another powerplay. Jade Downie-Landry gets her second goal of the game on this powerplay to give New York a two-goal lead.
Boston continued to fight and try to keep themselves in this game but it was clear where the energy was and it wasn’t on the power kill unit. Sophie Shirley got the puck in the back of the net to keep the lead close.
New York got their first penalty of the game as Abby Roque headed to the box for cross-checking. Boston did not score on their powerplay and pulled Frankel from the net to give them a final advantage. Their comeback fell short and New York snapped their losing streak before the international break.
New York was on the powerplay 6 times and converted on 3 of them. Boston takes more penalties than they can handle, and their penalty kill unit doesn’t save them all the time. Whether those penalties were deserved or not, that doesn’t change the fact that New York converted on half of the penalties. Hoping for a comeback from Boston after the break, 5 games left 5 points behind Ottawa, the race is still going. Do not count them out just yet.
