LOWELL, MA (MARCH 10, 2024) – Hannah Brandt scored twice, including the overtime winner, and Jamie Lee Rattray collected primary assists on both goals as Boston defeated New York 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.
It’s Brandt’s first multi-point game of the season and the overtime tally is her first game-winning-goal.
The duo combined for the first goal of the game after a strong forecheck by Rattray created a turnover. Brandt recovered the puck, skating it behind the net before attempting to make a pass out front. The pass deflected off New York goaltender Abbey Levy’s back and into the net, giving the home team a 1-0 lead just 3:57 into the game.
Brandt’s second of the night, at 1:48 of the overtime period, was once again scored after creating a turnover. The forward intercepted a New York pass inside Boston’s blue line, which created a 2-on-1 rush with Rattray. Brandt entered New York’s zone, dropping the puck back to Rattray who took a low shot—Brandt found the rebound on the doorstep, which sealed a victory for the home team.
Levy kept the game close, making 43 saves, which allowed New York to stay within one goal before taking a lead late in the second period.
Ten minutes into the second period, shots were 11-2 in favor of Boston, including a 26-8 advantage in the game— New York bounced back, outshooting the home team 9-2 from that point.
New York’s comeback began when Elizabeth Giguère scored her first PWHL goal—and point— at 16:21 of the second period to make the game 1-1. Giguère showed patience with the puck as she cut back with it at the hashmarks and headed towards the net. She skated cross-crease, holding onto the puck, before placing it over a sprawling Emma Söderberg. Alexandra Labelle and Chloé Aurard drew the assists on the play.
Jaime Bourbonnais gave New York its first lead just over two minutes later, at 18:28, with a shot from the point that beat Söderberg, who was screened. Jade Downie-Landry and Alex Carpenter assisted on the play.
Boston tied the game 2-2 at 5:20 of the third period off the stick of Sophie Shirley. After Boston cycled the puck in the offensive zone, Susanna Tapani collected the puck below the goal line before shoveling a one-handed pass to Shirley in the slot, who snapped a quick shot under Levy’s glove.
Tapani nearly gave Boston a lead two minutes later with two point-blank chances at the side of the net, but Levy’s strong play continued as she moved across the crease to stop the original shot, along with the rebound.
Rattray nearly gave Boston a late lead with two minutes remaining in the third, but Levy once again came up big, stopping the forward, who was alone on the doorstep.
The win is Boston’s first against New York in three games played.
Söderberg made 21 saves to collect her third win of the season.
Up next, Boston heads to Minnesota for a game at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday, March 13. Then, on Saturday March 16, it’s New York who hits the ice in Minnesota for a 3:30 p.m. ET game as part of the PWHL’s Takeover Weekend.
Postgame Quotes:
Boston forward Hannah Brandt: “Our team was looking for a win tonight. I think we are all pretty excited to come out on top. This one felt good.”
Boston head coach Courtney Kessel: “I commend our team. They stayed with it the whole way. The energy was positive in the room, on the bench, they really just stuck with it. I think that’s something so special about this group. I know we’re not sitting at the top of the standings right now, but we’re going to peak when it’s right and I really think we have a special group.”
New York forward Elizabeth Giguère: “I think we’re trying to all come together and find ways to win. For us we got to get points because we’re fighting for that playoff spot.”
Notes:
- Attendance: 4,607 – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, Lowell, MA.
- Three Stars: 1) Hannah Brandt 2) Sophie Shirley 3) Abbey Levy
- Shots ended 46-23 in favor of Boston — They led the shots in each of the game’s three regulation periods (16-7/13-11/12-5) and 5-0 in overtime.
- Boston started the third period with an 8-0 shot advantage — New York didn’t have their first shot of the period until 11:08 of the frame.
- The 46 shots are the most Boston has recorded in a game this season – The 23-shot differential is the largest spread for both teams in a single game.
- Boston’s Jamie Lee Rattray and Loren Gabel, and New York’s Jaime Bourbonnais had six shots each, the most in the game — Susanna Tapani was second with five.
- Both teams were 0/3 on the powerplay.
- The win is Boston’s third on home ice in nine games played – The win also snaps a two-game losing streak after a pair of regulation losses.
- New York has now lost a season-high five games in a row — They’ve collected just two out of a possible 15 points in that stretch.
- Abbey Levy’s 43 saves are a season high for the goaltender — Her previous high was 35 against Minnesota on January 28 in a 2-1 overtime loss.
- Elizabeth Giguère’s first PWHL goal is scored where she launched her pro career with the PHF’s Boston Pride.
- Alex Carpenter (NY) and Alina Müller (BOS) each collected their tenth assists of the season – They move into first in the PWHL in the category after entering the game in a four-way tie for the league lead.
- Carpenter has collected points in eight of her last nine games played and now has 18 on the season, leading Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) by one point atop the PWHL scoring race.
- Bourbonnais now has ten points on the season, and eight in her last eight games, moving into a tie for second place among all PWHL defenders with Megan Keller (BOS) —Ella Shelton (NY) leads all defenders with 12 points.
- With two assists, Rattray moves into third in team scoring with nine points.
- Shelton led all players in time on ice at 26:07 followed by Keller at 25:38.
- Boston (4-3-2-6) collects two points and is tied with Ottawa in fourth place with 20 points.
- New York (2-4-3-7) remains in sixth place with 17 points.
- The crowd of 4,607 is a season-high for Boston at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.
- Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren performed the ceremonial face-off.
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