With their overtime win over the Boston Fleet, the Minnesota Frost moved back into first overall in the PWHL.
With their overtime win over the Boston Fleet, the Minnesota Frost moved back into first overall in the PWHL.
It was a back and forth game that ended with Britta Curl-Salemme's overtime winner for the Minnesota Frost to lift her team back to first overall in the PWHL standings. Minnesota beat Boston 4-3 in front of 5,066 at the Xcel Energy Center.
Minnesota opened the scoring midway through the second with back-to-back goals just 43 seconds apart from Claire Butorac and Brooke Bryant. It looked like Minnesota would run away with the game, but Boston captain Hilary Knight had other ideas scoring Boston's first of the season. Just two minutes later however, Minnesota continued to put on pressure and Brooke McQuigge found the back of the net
The third period looked like Minnesota would hold on without issue, but in the final three minutes of the game, Boston's Susanna Tapani scored twice in only 49 seconds to tie the game and send it to overtime.
In overtime, Claire Thompson made a defensive play that gave Minnesota possession leading to Curl's overtime winner. The assist was Thompson's second of the night, launching her back into the league scoring lead.
Minnesota managed the win despite being without Taylor Heise and Maddie Rooney, as well as injured players Dominique Petrie and Sophie Jaques.
“It’s tough, obviously we’ve got players dropping quickly but I’m proud of this group for finding a way to win," said Minnesota head coach Ken Klee. "I mean, I would have obviously liked to have three points in regulation, but Boston is a good team and they’re going to keep fighting to the end and they did. Luckily we were able to battle it out in overtime and Britta scored a big goal for us.”
Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley stopped 25 of 28 shots in the Frost victory
Boston continues to struggle sitting tied with Toronto for last in the PWHL. They'll look to regroup as the team heads to Seattle for the first stop on the PWHL's Takeover Tour.
“I think it’s going to be a great experience," said Boston head coach Courtney Kessel. "I don’t think many of us have been to Seattle and I think we’re going to get a good physical game against Montréal like we always do.”