LOWELL, Mass. — 4,007 hockey fans were on hand for a maiden matchup of what might become the PWHL’s first major rivalry. PWHL New York beat PWHL Boston, 4-1, at the Tsongas Center on Saturday.
“It was a really exciting atmosphere,” said New York head coach Howie Draper. “I’m from western Canada. To come into the thick of the Boston and New York rivalry, the vibe is intense. We have our rivalries in Alberta, but this was palpable.”
New York’s Olivia Zafuto would receive the first penalty of the afternoon. The Niagra Falls native was sent off for interference at the 11:57 mark of the opening frame. The visitors sprung an early counterattack during their penalty kill. Attempting to nullify the penalty with a shorthanded goal, former Boston College Eagle, Olivia Carpenter, was stopped by PWHL Boston netminder Emma Söderberg.
Boston was able to form a few quality chances but was unable to score with the extra attacker.
Jade Downie-Landry opened the scoring for PWHL New York. Downie-Landry’s initial shot was blocked by the stick of Boston’s Jessica Digirolamo. The block would end up as more of an assist, however. The puck flew back onto her stick, allowing her a second-chance wrister. The puck flew past Soderberg’s glove for her first goal of the season at 17:12 in the first.
Tempers flared late in the period following an awkward play by Gigi Martin on Downie-Landry. Hillary Knight would come to the defense of her linemate and exchange shoves with Downie-Landry before the linespersons separated the scrum.
New York would take their 1-0 lead to the end of the first period while being outshot by the hosts 11 to 9.
Off in a New York Minute
New York wasted little time after the first intermission in putting pressure on the hosts. Carpenter’s initial shot off the rush would be denied by Söderberg, but Jesse Eldridge would be there to pick up the rebound and put the puck over the left pad to double the visitor’s lead just 26 seconds into the period.
Downie-Landry would pot her second of the game less than two minutes later, working her way into the slot from the half-wall and going to the high glove side again to put New York up by three.
Courtney Kessel elected to make a change in net, tapping opening night starter Aerin Frankel to take over for Soderberg.
Following her brace, Boston seemed to find their step on the offensive side of the ice after Downie-Landry was sent to the box for a tripping minor. The hosts would hold the puck in the offensive zone and create many strong chances. They would, however, be stopped again and again by Connie Schroeder, whose aggressive play allowed the visitors to hold their three-goal lead.
Boston would continue to pile on the pressure, but Schroeder would continue her incredible run of form in net. Captain Hillary Knight would send a wrister from the point that would be deflected by Jamie Lee Rattary, but Schroeder would be in the right place at the right time to deny another Boston chance.
“MARTHA! THE BARN’S ON FIRE!”
Emotions began to boil over after a battle in the New York crease concluded with Knight staring at the Tsongas Center rafters. Things quickly escalated when Boston’s Alina Muller ripped Brooke Hobson out of the pile, drawing the attention of Abby Roque. The two would exchange shoves before the linespersons would step in to break up the scuffle.
Boston would pick up a few more chances late in the period. Knight would lose sight of the puck in the crease, allowing Schroeder to dive on it to halt play.
New York maintained their three-goal lead heading into the second intermission. Again, they were outshot by Boston 11-7 for a two-period total of 22-16.
Loren Gable made herself Boston’s leader in goals with her fourth goal of the year at the 1:12 mark of the third period. A behind-the-back pass from Alina Muller set Gable up on the doorstep. The former member of the Boston Pride capitalized on the chance, firing the puck past Schroeder’s left skate to give the hosts life as the clock wound down.
Jade Downie-Landry picked up the second hat trick in PWHL history. The Quebec native scored from downtown on the empty net to put the finishing touches on a 4-1 victory for New York.
Postgame Comments
As just the second player to score a hat trick in PWHL history, Jade Downie-Landry directed praise away from herself postgame.
“It’s obviously a good feeling, but I owe a lot to my teammates,” she said. “We knew Boston would be a very fast and physical team and we adjusted as the game went on.”
A clearly frustrated Hillary Knight had this to say following the loss.
“It would be great to string 60 minutes together,” said Knight. “I know that every club is looking for a perfect 60 minutes, we’re never going to get that, but our lows throughout the game have really bit us this season.
Boston head coach Courtney Kessel made note of a key area of concern in regard to her team’s play.
“I think we’ve had a slow start to a lot of our periods,” said Kessel. “We need to start building momentum right from opening puck drop. It’s something that needs to be a focus for us.”
A New Game
Knight also made note of the physical nature of the contest and the league as a whole.
“The physicality is there. Obviously, having more body contact is something that was highlighted. What I don’t like are the hits to the head. It’s something that should never be a part of this game and hopefully [the league] will continue to combat that. Overall, I think it’s great. It’s awesome for a defenseman to be able to bump a forward along the wall and make them have to think about where they place the puck.”
Downie-Landry, like most of the players and fans, has welcomed the PWHL’s rule changes regarding body checking.
“It’s been an adjustment. You have to keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings, but it’s something that we all want. We want to play the best game of hockey there is. Part of that is being physical.”
PWHL Boston will head north of the border for the second time this season to face off against Ottawa this Wednesday at 7:00 PM (ET). New York will head to Toronto for their third matchup of the year next Friday at 7:00 PM. All PWHL games can be streamed on YouTube.
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