OTTAWA, ON (April 20, 2024) – Lexie Adzija had the game-winner with just over three minutes remaining in the third period to give Boston a 2-1 victory over New York at Prudential Center on Saturday afternoon. Adzija also tallied a second period assist, as the forward recorded her first multi-point game of the season.
Nicole Kosta, who signed a 1-year SPA with Boston earlier in the day, also had her first multi-point game of the season, scoring her first PWHL goal to go along with the helper on Adzija’s game-winner.
The winner was scored at 16:51 of the third period. With the game tied 1-1, Kosta intercepted a New York pass attempt in the offensive zone and put the puck towards the Boston net. New York captain Micah Zandee-Hart got a stick on the initial shot, but Adzija found the puck, putting it through traffic and past Corinne Schroeder to make the game 2-1.
The goal was Adzija’s first game-winning goal of the season.
It was Kosta who got the game’s first goal, at 6:13 in the first period, by crashing the net to put home a rebound created by Adzija’s shot from the left circle. Megan Keller recorded her tenth assist of the season on the play, as the defender held the line to keep possession in the offensive zone.
New York evened the score at 16:49 of the middle frame with Jessie Eldridge’s seventh goal of the season.
Alex Carpenter entered the offensive zone and put a shot on net, which created a rebound. Jill Saulnier’s shot attempt through a crowd in front found its way to Eldridge at the side of the net, who tapped the puck in to tie the game 1-1.
Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel stopped 24 shots, including two big saves with just over five minutes remaining in the third period with New York on a 2-on-1 rush. Frankel stopped the initial shot and slid across to deny the rebound attempt, keeping the game tied 1-1.
Frankel now has seven victories on the season, tied for second-most in the PWHL.
Schroeder made 36 saves in the loss, including 17 in the second period.
Boston secures three points for the regulation win, which moves them past Ottawa and into fourth place in the PWHL with 28 points. They’ve now won two regulation games in a row for the first time since February 21 and 25.
The match was New York’s first home game at Prudential Center.
Up next, New York visits Montréal for a match-up at Verdun Auditorium on Wednesday. That same evening, Boston continues their road play when they head to the Arena at TD Place to take on Ottawa.
Postgame Quotes:
Nicole Kosta on scoring her first goal: “Obviously, it was an exciting moment. We were holding our breaths a little bit on the long play, but it was great to be out there. Anyone on that line could have scored and I was just happy I could reward that great shift.”
Boston head coach Courtney Kessel: “I wish we came out with the same speed and intensity that we did against Toronto, but this puts us in a better spot heading into the last three games and a playoff run.”
Notes:
- Attendance: 5,132 – Prudential Center, Newark, NJ.
- Three Stars: 1) Lexie Adzija 2) Nicole Kosta 3) Jessie Eldridge
- Boston outshot New York 38-25 — They had the shot lead in the second (17-10) and third (14-6), but New York had the edge in the first period (9-7).
- Boston’s Adzija and Hilary Knight led all players with five shots apiece —Eldridge led all New York skaters with four shots on goal.
- Boston was 0/1 on the powerplay — New York did not have a powerplay.
- This is the second game this season that New York ended the game without a powerplay opportunity — The other instance was on January 20, also against Boston.
- Micah Zandee-Hart (NY) led all skaters with 27:03 time-on-ice —Teammates Jaime Bourbonnais (25:42) and Ella Shelton (24:09) finished second and third respectively.
- Kaleigh Fratkin led all Boston skaters with 23:07 TOI.
- Boston’s Kelly Babstock played in her first game of the season after signing a 10-day SPA earlier in the day — She logged 1:00 of ice time.
- With her second period assist, Megan Keller (BOS) now has 13 points on the season — She sits tied for second in scoring among defenders with New York’s Ella Shelton.
- Eldridge moves into third in team scoring with 12 points — She also moves into sole possession of second place in team goal scoring with seven goals, one behind Carpenter for the team lead.
- Corinne Schroeder has made 30 saves or more in eight of her 13 starts this season.
- Jill Saulnier’s second period assist was her first of the season.
- Boston has now won back-to-back games in regulation by 2-1 scores.
- Adzija’s goal was her first with Boston — She entered the game with one assist in four games played with the team since being acquired from Ottawa via trade on March 18.
- PWHL Advisory Board member Billie Jean King was in attendance with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
- The game was New York’s Pride celebration — Boston held their Pride Night during their home game on Thursday, April 18.
- Ali Krieger, two-time World Cup winner and NWSL champion, dropped the puck for a ceremonial face-off prior to the game.
- New York wins the season series between the two teams, winning 3 of 5 games and finishing with a 9-6 advantage in points.
- The crowd of 5,132 was New York’s highest attended home game this season.
- Boston (6-4-2-9) secures three points for the regulation win and now have 28 points on the season — They sit one point ahead of Ottawa for fourth place, the PWHL’s final playoff position.
- New York (3-4-3-10) remains in sixth place with 20 points— They are seven points behind Ottawa (5th) and eight points behind Boston (4th) with four games remaining.
- Game Center | League Standings | League Schedule | League Stats