By: Alexis Caines | Follow me on Twitter/X @alexiscaines_
The Boston Fleet beat the Ottawa Charge 2-1 in Game One of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Playoffs. Boston leads the best-of-five semifinal series 1-0.
It was a chippy first period with 15 penalty minutes across both teams. Boston defender Rylind MacKinnon laid a huge hit on Gabbie Hughes and received a major penalty and game misconduct.
Ottawa was able to score on that power play with Jocelyn Larocque tipping rookie Rory Guilday’s wrist shot past Aerin Frankel. Despite trailing, Boston held the edge in shots and had a lot of high danger chances.
Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips came as advertised, making massive saves early in the game to keep her team in it. So did Frankel, yet facing far less shots from the Charge.
Back in the Fleet lineup tonight was Olivia Mobley, who has been on LTIR since the Olympic break. In her return, she had just under seven minutes of ice time and recorded two hits. In a corresponding move, the Fleet returned Loren Gabel to the reserve roster.
Halfway through the second, PWHL reporter Natalie Noury spoke with Fleet Head Coach Kris Sparre, who urged his team to “settle down.” His message worked: shortly after they found their game, scoring two quick goals to steal the lead.
Alina Müller found the back of the net first, skating in with a pass from Jesse Eldridge on her stick. She launched the puck over the glove of Philips and it soared high.
Less than two minutes later, Jamie Lee Rattray slid in net front and went five-hold to put the Fleet up 2-1. It was Eldridge again recording the primary assist, giving her two quick points in her playoff debut.
So far, she has been a massive help for the Fleet since being acquired in March from the Seattle Torrent. In eleven regular season games she recorded ten points, including two multi-goal nights. Her offense has translated in her first playoff game.
With no further goals in the third period, Philips was pulled for the extra attacker. Ottawa put on the pressure, but Boston never let the puck near Frankel. It marked the first game between the two teams this season that did not require overtime.
It was a complete defensive lockdown showing from the Fleet, only allowing the Charge to get 18 shots on net. It made Frankel’s job easy, only recording 17 saves, a .944 SV%.
One concern for the Fleet was the fact that it was a one-goal game, something that has followed them all season long. Recording 28 shots on net, it’s clear that the effort is there. They’ll look to get some more past Philips to make their leads more comfortable, though it won’t be easy to solve her.
After the game, Fleet Head Coach Kris Sparre spoke with the media about the team’s effort. “I liked that we stuck with it,” he said. “That’s why we talk a lot during the season about big moments and staying composed because the higher the stakes, we’re going to need that.”
Megan Keller recorded 30:29 for the Fleet tonight. Her two-hundred-foot play has been recognizable this season, and she’ll be relied on heavily as both a defender and captain this series.
Game Two will be played on Saturday at 7pm. Both teams are expected to come out with the same gutsy gameplay in order to either take the lead further or tie the series.
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