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Game Recap: Boston Fleet fall short of comeback against the Minnesota Frost in 4-3 overtime loss

SAINT PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Frost regained the top position in the PWHL on Thursday night with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against the Boston Fleet at the Xcel Energy Center. The game-winning goal came from Britta Curl-Salemme, securing the Frost’s place at the top of the standings in front of their enthusiastic home crowd.

After a scoreless first period, the Frost took the lead in the second period with two quick goals just 43 seconds apart from Claire Butorac and Brooke Bryant. The intensity ramped up in the third period, with Hilary Knight scoring Boston’s first goal of the game—her fourth of the season—followed by a goal from Minnesota’s Brooke McQuigge two minutes later. Trailing 3-1, Boston forward Susanna Tapani scored twice within 49 seconds to tie the game and force overtime. Despite Boston’s late push, the Frost held on for the win with goaltender Nicole Hensley stopping 25 of 28 shots while Boston’s Aerin Frankel saved 18 of 22 shots in the overtime loss.

QUOTES

Emma Greco, Boston defender, on the loss: “I’m super proud of the group for coming back from a two-goal deficit. Obviously, we would like another point on the road, so it’s tough.”

Courtney Kessel, Boston head coach, on the upcoming game in Seattle: “I think it’s going to be a great experience. 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.”

Britta Curl-Salemme, Minnesota forward, on her thoughts during the game-winning goal: “Don’t collapse, I guess. I was so tired I didn’t think I was going to make it down the ice, but luckily I had a head start and thought I would make a move on her. I don’t want to watch the replay, people told me I looked like I was skating on an incline.”

Ken Klee, Minnesota head coach, on the team’s performance: “It’s tough, obviously we’ve got players dropping quickly but I’m proud of this group for finding a way to win. 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.”

NOTABLES

  • Claire Thompson’s two assists in the game brought her total to nine for the season, leading the league. She has ten points, putting her in first place in the PWHL scoring race. Her assists also extended her point streak to five games (1G, 8A).
  • Boston earned their first point on the road this season and outshot their opponents for the first time in seven games.
  • Britta Curl-Salemme scored her second game-winner of the season, tying her for first in goals in the PWHL and leading all rookies. She and New York’s Alex Carpenter are the only players with multiple game-winners so far this season.
  • Daniela Pejšová, Boston’s seventh overall pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft, recorded her first PWHL point with a primary assist on Tapani’s game-tying goal.
  • Fleet captain Hilary Knight’s fourth goal of the season ties her with Carpenter for the league lead. Knight also added an assist, moving her to fourth place in league scoring with seven points. This was her first multi-point game of the season.
  • Susanna Tapani‘s two goals were the fastest by a single PWHL player this season, topping the previous fastest mark of 3:26 by teammate Michela Cava on December 7. She also had a two-goal game with Minnesota on January 17, 2024.
  • With an assist on Knight’s third-period goal, Fleet defender Megan Keller is now tied for fifth in league scoring with six points (2G, 4A).
  • Frost forward Claire Butorac scored her second goal of the season, doubling her total from last year. Defender Mellissa Channell-Watkins recorded her second assist of the season, matching her point total from last year.
  • Frost rookie forward Brooke McQuigge scored her second goal of the season, her first on the power play. Minnesota’s two goals in 43 seconds and Boston’s two goals in 49 seconds are the fastest back-to-back tallies this season.
  • Kaitlyn O’Donohoe made her PWHL debut for the Frost, logging 13:01 of ice time.
  • Minnesota goaltender Lucy Morgan dressed for her first PWHL game, backing up starter Nicole Hensley. Morgan signed a 10-day contract with the Frost earlier in the day.
  • Kelly Babstock made her season debut for the Fleet, logging 5:02 of ice time. She signed a 10-day contract with the Fleet earlier in the day.
  • Knight and Minnesota’s Kendall Coyne Schofield co-led the game with five shots each.
  • Thompson led all players in ice time, logging 25:32. Tapani logged 23:27, the most among Boston skaters.

SCORESHEET RECAP

Boston 0 0 3 0 – 3 Minnesota 0 2 1 1 – 4

1st Period – No Scoring. Penalties: Bard, BOS (tripping) 3:50; Curl-Salemme, MIN (roughing) 9:01.

2nd Period – 1, Minnesota, Butorac 2 (Channell-Watkins) 9:06; 2, Minnesota, Bryant 1 (Stecklein, Batherson) 9:49. Penalties: Brandt, BOS (roughing) 2:00; Greco, BOS (interference) 6:18; Babstock, BOS (cross-checking) 11:23; Curl-Salemme, MIN (tripping) 16:43.

3rd Period – 3, Boston, Knight 4 (Keller) 7:05; 4, Minnesota, McQuigge 2 (Curl-Salemme, Thompson) 9:35 (PP). 5, Boston, Tapani 2 16:43 (PP); 6, Boston, Tapani 3 (Pejšová, Knight) 17:32. Penalties: Shirley, BOS (hooking) 9:27; Stecklein, MIN (roughing) 15:59.

1st OT Period – 7, Minnesota, Curl-Salemme 4 (Coyne Schofield, Thompson) 4:47. Penalties: No Penalties.

Shots on Goal: Boston 8-6-13-1-28; Minnesota 6-7-7-2-22. Power Play Opportunities: Boston 1/3; Minnesota 1/5. Goalies: Boston, Frankel 2-3-1-0 (22 shots-18 saves); Minnesota, Hensley 2-0-1-0 (28 shots-25 saves). Attendance: 5,066.

THREE STARS

  1. Britta Curl-Salemme (MIN) 1G, 1A
  2. Susanna Tapani (BOS) 2G
  3. Brooke Bryant (MIN) 1G

STANDINGS

Minnesota (3-2-1-1) – 14 PTS – 1st Place Boston (2-0-1-4) – 7 PTS – 5th Place (Tied)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Minnesota vs New York: Saturday, January 4, 1:00 p.m. CT (Xcel Energy Center) Boston at Montréal: Sunday, January 5, 1:00 p.m. PT (Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA)

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