The game started slow, and then Hannah Brandt came alive in the third to get Boston over the Ottawa Charge in a 3-2 WIN!
The first period was devoid of any goals or penalties. Both sides did however have some good opportunities, the majority were for the Charge, but Aerin Frankel was up to the task, doing her part to keep the game scoreless.
Starting in the second the Fleet decided to say damn the torpedoes and went all out, playing with more energy than they have shown for most of the young season. This would lead to the first goal of the game off some niifty stick handling by Jamie Lee Rattray. Ottawa would not go away easily and were able to even the score line with a fluky goal that bounced off both Shiann Darkangelo and Susanna Tapani and required an official review before play was able to resume. Boston came back with renewed vigor and a scrum in front of the Ottawa crease yielded Shay Maloney’s first career goal. The Charge would knot it up once again on an odd skater rush that screened Frankel just enough to get the puck past her. The officials also decided to show up late in the period, calling two penalties against Boston, the second of which ran into the final frame.
The penalty kill stayed stout, and finished off the penalty in the third. The teams would both jockey for position until Hannah Brandt lit her first lamp of the season to give Boston a lead they would not relinquish. Once again the Fleet were called for a penalty in the second half of the period but made easy work of the situation. Ottawa pulled their goalie early and had some good chances, but Frankel was up to the task and Boston would hold on long enough to take home the win.
Highlights:
Game Notes
- While Boston was outshot overall, a large portion of that was score effects coming late in the game as Ottawa was desperately trying to put shots on Frankel. The Fleet had a much more cohesive offensive period in the second and it yielded two goals. That is something they will look to replicate their next time out.
- While Frankel will likely want the second goal back, the first goal was not one anyone would save, her .923 SV% performance was impressive; with Ottawa having a lot of high danger opportunities.
- The Fleet’s PK is tied for best in the league, having the most opportunities of any team, and they have performed admirably. The PP was not seen at all tonight, which is par for the course as Boston has had the fewest opportunities in the league, and even now has an extra game over the rest of the league.
- It was a night of firsts as all five goals were scored by players who had not yet scored a goal this season, five of the eight assists were also the scoring players’ first of the season.
- Rookie goalie Klara Peslarova dressed for the first time this season. She saw no action, but the question of when Kessel will give Frankel her first night off of the season is looming with the dense schedule of early January.
- This the last game Boston will actually play at home until the end of January as their home game against Montreal to start the calendar year was moved to Seattle for a Takeover Tour game.
- Last night was the last game before the holiday break for the Fleet as they return to action in Toronto on the 27th.