The Boston Fleet erased a two goal deficit as Klára Peslarová came into the game for her first PWHL game and win.

In a physical matchup the Minnesota Frost blew a two goal lead against the Boston Fleet, who left Lowell victorious 4-2.

Although the offense took a second to make anything happen, Boston’s goaltending in the second and third period showed hope for the Fleet’s future.

Emma Söderberg got the start for the Fleet. She had started two games prior to Sunday night against Minnesota, but hadn’t seen the results she was looking for. She was replaced by Klára Peslarová in the second period, with Peslarova remaining perfect in the comeback. 

The Fleet started the game hot with early offensive opportunities, holding the Frost to zero shots in the first seven minutes.

That quickly changed however, when the puck bounced over Sydney Bard and the Frost’s Kendall Coyne Schofield put one past Söderberg. Sophie Jaques and Lee Stecklein got the assists. 

The game was physical early on, as was expected from another match up between the two teams who battled last season in the Walter Cup finals. 

This included as Brooke Bryant and Jaime Lee Rattray got into a pushing match, which sent both of them to the box for roughing. Bryant had an additional two minutes for holding.

The Fleet were unable to capitalize on the player advantage, and a strange bounce that came next gave the Frost another goal as the puck redirected off Brooke McQuigge's skate and slid past Söderberg into the net. 

That was it for Söderberg in Sunday’s game. The Fleet ended the period down 2-0.

Although the goals were not entirely Söderberg’s fault, her history against the Frost and the rocky start for the team pushed coach Courtney Kessel to pull her from the game. Söderberg stopped seven of nine shots she faced.

Peslarová Makes Her Debut

The second period began with Klára Peslarová in net for the Fleet, making her PWHL debut.

Fleet fans have been eager to see Peslarová in net since the team signed her. Peslarová is the Czech National Team’s starting goaltender, and has a similar style of play to Aerin Frankel, Boston’s starting goalie.

Peslarová proved herself on Sunday. She ended the game with a shutout over the two periods she played, however she was immediately challenged once she stepped foot onto the ice. The Minnesota Frost thought they had scored their third goal at the beginning of the second period, however the call on the ice was “no goal.”

Trailing by two goals, Boston’s Sidney Morin went to the penalty box. The Fleet then dominated the Frost on their own power play. They got several shorthanded shots off and were able to kill the penalty, and shift momentum.

Frost’s Head Coach Ken Klee said, “I think their penalty kill got them some momentum. They had more chances than we did on our power play. I think that they did a good job on the kill there, where they were jumping on us, we weren't quite as sharp.”

The Boston Fleet were dominant in the second and third period. Two players specifically had a strong connection and assisted one another’s goals; Susanna Tapani and Jill Saulnier.

In the second period, a pass from Tapani to Saulnier put the Fleet on the board. Saulnier recorded her first goal of season with the Fleet, and repaid Tapani later in the third period when Susanna Tapani beautifully placed the puck over Maddie Rooney's shoulder in a highlight goal.

Saulnier, who was traded to the Fleet on January 21st from the New York Sirens, complimented Tapani and said, “her patience is just something I've never seen before. Just for her to receive that puck and put that exactly where she wanted it.”

The two players each left the game with one goal and one assist. Tapani had Saulnier’s assist and Saulnier had Tapani’s.

“She's a wonderful player. I've really enjoyed playing with her. I think we're kind of get rolling here. We've got some chemistry. It's been, it's been fun to be together, and I'm excited for the next,” said Saulnier.

Not only did Saulnier have a two-point night, she also had a fantastic game defensively.

Saulnier threw her body in front of two of the Frost's power play shots to help Peslarová keep the puck out of the net in her PWHL debut.

“I think it's important for our team to battle in front of a goalie who's playing her first game. And [I’m] just really happy with the response that we had after the first period,” said Kessel.

With the game now tied, Boston’s Alina Muller passed the puck to Hillary Knight in a two-on-one situation. Knight put the puck past Rooney, and gave the Fleet a nice 3-2 lead late in the third period.

Muller and Knight have had chemistry playing together in the past. In between the first and second period Kessel decided to switch up the lines, swapping Hillary Knight and Sophie Shirley. The swap produced positive results immediately with the goal from Knight, that gave the Fleet the lead for the first time in the game.

With two minutes remaining the Frost pulled goalie Maddie Rooney, giving Alina Muller the opportunity to score an empty netter. The goal was her third goal of the season and solidified the win for the Fleet.

The Boston Fleet left Lowell with a much needed victory, and are already on the road to New York, where they will face the New York Sirens Monday at 4 pm.

The goaltending in the second and third from Peslarová proved she deserves a start in the future. However the offense’s inability to make anything happen before the second period remains a concern for the team.

Regardless of how the game began, the Fleet walked away with three points as they head to New York for Monday’s game.

The Fleet are now 4-1-0-1 at home. Kessel was pleased with the team’s home win and said, “it’s been great to get some big wins here and we have some awesome fans. I think, you this is home for us and we are finally settling in.”