BRIDGEPORT, CT (January 28, 2024) – Abby Boreen scored at 2:56 of the overtime period to lift her team to a 2-1 win against New York on Sunday afternoon. The forward signed a 10-day contract on January 24 after beginning the season as one of Minnesota’s reserve players.
Boreen’s first PWHL goal, and point, was scored after a back-and-forth overtime that produced a number of chances.
Goaltender Nicole Hensley started the play, winning the race to the puck against a charging New York player. Hensley got to the puck in the high slot then fed Boreen who was circling back in the neutral zone, which created a 3-on-1 rush.
The forward then tapped the puck to teammate Kelly Pannek, who entered the offensive zone and got a quick shot off after avoiding the lone New York defender with a toe-drag in the slot. The shot created a rebound, which Boreen pounced on to secure the win for Minnesota.
Hensley collected an assist on the play—her first PWHL point. She’s the second goaltender this season to record a point, joining Ottawa’s Emerance Maschmeyer.
The goaltender made 33 saves in the game for her fourth win of the season, the most in the PWHL.
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead at 15:47 of the first period on a goal scored by Abby Cook.
The defender’s first-ever PWHL marker came after captain Kendall Coyne Schofield won the race to the puck in the offensive zone corner and fed Cook at the point, who steered her shot through traffic, past New York goaltender Abbey Levy.
Hensley kept her team up 1-0 through the first two periods, despite Minnesota being outshot 27-15 in that span — including a 17-6 advantage in the second— and taking five minor penalties in the first 40 minutes.
New York finally broke through on the powerplay when Ella Shelton tied the game 1-1 just 23 seconds into the third period with her third goal of the season. The defender one-timed the pass from captain Micah Zandee-Hart and blasted the puck top shelf, over Hensley’s glove.
Levy stopped 17 third period shots, including a Coyne Schofield breakaway with just over five minutes remaining in the third to keep the game tied 1-1.
Minnesota’s overtime win comes less than 24 hours after falling 3-2 in the extra frame to Boston.
Next up, Minnesota visits Toronto on February 3 at Mattamy Athletic Centre. The next afternoon, New York hits the road to face off against Ottawa for the first time this season
Postgame Quotes:
Minnesota defender Lee Stecklein: “I’m really proud of how we just kept going, there were some mistakes here and there but we knew we had to keep fighting. Their team is full of skill and grit so we needed to be great today.”
Ken Klee, Minnesota Head Coach: “It’s about the players, about managing their ice time yesterday – and even Wednesday for that matter – and making sure that we weren’t overstressing certain players at key times, because it’s hard to find legs for the end of the game when you’re playing so much. I knew it was going to be a challenge – more mental than the physical grind.”
Notes:
- Attendance: 2,393 – Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, CT
- Three Stars 1) Abby Boreen 2) Abigail Levy 3) Nicole Hensley
- Minnesota won the final shot tally 37-34, including a 5-2 advantage in overtime.
- New York had a 17-6 shot advantage in the second period — Minnesota rebounded by outshooting the home team 17-5 in the third.
- Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle led all players with six shots on goal — Kendall Coyne Schofield was second with five.
- Élizabeth Giguère and Abby Roque’s four shots apiece were tops among New York players.
- This is the first game that Minnesota has won when outshooting its opponent.
- New York was 1/6 on the powerplay – Minnesota was 0/1.
- Alex Carpenter is now tied with Boston’s Alina Müller for the league lead in scoring with nine points.
- Ella Shelton’s goal gives her eight points on the season and puts her in a tie for second in the PWHL with Zumwinkle — Shelton leads all defenders in the category.
- Shelton’s powerplay goal ties her for the league-lead with two – She leads the entire PWHL with five powerplay points.
- Coyne Schofield’s first period assist was her first of the season — She had two goals entering today’s contest.
- Kelly Pannek became the first Minnesota skater to record her second two-assist game.
- Abigail Boreen is the 2nd player this season to score while on a 10-day contract, joining Montréal’s Catherine Dubois.
- Today’s game was the third time this season Hensley has made more than 30 saves — She made and 33 against Boston on January 3 and 31 versus Toronto on January 10.
- Micah Zandee-Hart’s primary assist on Shelton’s powerplay goal was her first-ever PWHL point, in her third game since returning from injury.
- This was Minnesota’s third win in four away contests, and third overtime decision in a row on the road – Overall, it’s their fifth straight one-goal decision, with four of the five games settled in OT.
- The win ends Minnesota’s season-high two-game losing streak – The loss is New York’s second in a row, which ties a season-high.
- Minnesota (3-2-2-1) is now tied atop the PWHL standings with Montréal with 15 points.
- New York (2-1-1-4) now has nine points and sits fifth in the standings, one point ahead of Toronto.
- Both teams have played eight games, representing one-third of their season schedule.
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