Fleet Finally Find Their Offense In Win Over Sceptres

The Boston Fleet secured a huge win over the Toronto Sceptres on Wednesday, January 22nd. Early scoring and a lack of penalties were the two things that clicked early in the first period to give the Fleet a two goal lead. It also helped that Alina Muller recorded her first goal and multi-point game this season.

The thrilling four-to-one win was far from perfect, however there were glimpses of hope as the Fleet walk away with three point.

The team recently went on a month road long trip where their lack of offensive opportunities early in the game hurt them. Wednesday night however, they were ready to play, outshooting the Sceptres 9 to 8 in the first period and scoring two unanswered goals.

After a long period of offensive possession for the Fleet, Hannah Brandt weaved through defenders to set up Alina Muller for her first goal of the season just four minutes and 27 seconds into the game.

The second goal of the night came seventeen minutes into the first period. Emily Brown netted the puck off of an assist by Alina Müller, who seemed to be getting in her groove this game.

Muller left the period with one goal and one assist, having entered the game with only one assist. Her behind the back pass in front of the net set Brown up for a perfect goal to give the Fleet a two-to-zero lead entering the second period.

To no surprise, the Toronto Sceptres came into the second period ready to get on the board. Many efforts were shut down by Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel. Frankel’s big saves early on in the second period to kept the Fleet at a two-goal lead.

Frankel gave credit to the home-ice advantage and said, “it's great to play at home in front of these fans. We had such a long road trip, and I think we all missed that little bit. It was a great crowd tonight, and I know that they'll continue to show up for us,”

Although Frankel was a force to be reckoned with in the net, the Fleet served the first penalty of the night just six minutes into the second period. Daniela Pejsova served two minutes in the box for holding.

The penalty was killed off, however the Sceptres offense was adamant in front of the net, getting nine unanswered shots on goal in the first ten minutes of the second period.

Blayre Turnbull headed to the box next for cross-checking. The Fleet couldn’t gain possession the entire player up advantage, and then some pushing and shoving in front of the net sent both Sceptres’ Renata Fast and Fleets’ Jill Saulnier to the box for two minutes for roughing.

This was a very fitting welcome to Boston for Saulnier, who on her second shift headed to the penalty box, where the Fleet seem to be spending a good portion of their games.

Head Coach Courtney Kessel was pleased at Saulnier’s physicality and willingness to defend her teammates.

“I love to see that. I think she brings that physicality piece to her, she plays with a little bit of an edge, and that's something we appreciate in Boston, and to stand up for each other.” said Kessel.

And then there was yet another Fleet penalty fifteen minutes into the second period. This time, Boston's Theresa Schafzahl went to the box for tripping. The Fleet had three penalties in the second period. It was too good to be true to believe that they could go a full game without a single penalty.

However, the Fleet did get four shots on net, and Frankel was able to block all 13 shots she faced in the second period.

While the offense carried the first period, Frankel carried the second, which was spent mostly trying to kill off penalties.

By some miracle (Frankel) the Fleet left the second period maintaining their two goal lead. However the Fleet’s second period performance was reminiscent of games past.

The offense had very few opportunities on net and Toronto dominated both offensively and defensively. The Fleet that we saw in the first period stayed in the locker room for the second.

The third period came around with the score still two-to-one Fleet. Right off the faceoff Frankel began to make incredible saves. The fans at Tsongas Center were cheering her name as she continuously fought to keep the Sceptres out of the net.

Luckily, the Fleet added to their lead when what appeared to have been shot directly from Shay Maloney right through the pads. The goal was initially credited to Sophie Shirley, however was corrected to be Maloney’s goal after the game.

Although the Fleet held a three goal lead, they still had to keep the Sceptres away from the net for fifteen minutes.

They also saw the box once more when Amanda Pelkey to the box for delay of game.

Frankel continued to have an incredible performance in the third period, stopping 14 shots.

However Toronto's Blayre Turnbull got one past Frankel with a backhanded shot to the upper right corner with five minutes remaining. With the score being three-to-one Boston, with one minute and twenty-six seconds remaining Toronto's Kristen Campbell left the net.

Toronto was fighting to leave Tsongas Center with some points. They called a timeout with 1:20 remaining. However Megan Keller got an empty net goal to secure the win for the Fleet.

The final score: Fleet 4 I Sceptres 1

As for the game itself, Kessel gave credit to both teams.

“They did come out strong, and I think we kind of weathered the storm a little bit” she continued, “the game could have gone the other way real quickly, down to second and thankfully, we have the best goalie in the league to back us up.”

The Boston Fleet extend their lead over the Sceptres by four points in the standings. They remain in fourth place in the league, and the Sceptres are in fifth.

This is the first win over the Sceptres that the Fleet have had this season, and it was a big one for the team.

The Boston Fleet will now head up to Xcel Energy Center, where they will be facing the Minnesota Frost on Sunday January 26th at 2 p.m..