New York shuts out short-handed Connecticut, 2-0 in NWHL play

Connecticut’s Megam Mangene had a season-high four shots on goal in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to New York at home.

NORTH BRANFORD, Dec. 18 – This was an opportunity for many of the players on the Connecticut Whale Sunday. The Whale were missing five players including four of their top scorers for Sunday’s National Women’s Hockey League contest with New York.

Kelli Stack, Haley Skarupa and Dana Trivigno were unavailable because they are playing with the U.S. national team this weekend in a two-game series with Canada. Leading scorer Kelly Babstock (12 points, 6 goals, 6 assists) was serving a one game suspension for an illegal hit in last week’s win over New York. Defenseman Shannon Doyle also wasn’t able to play Sunday.

The Whale got the job done defensively, giving up just one even strength goal and 17 shots on net. But despite 27 shots on net, Connecticut couldn’t score as New York snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory at the Northford Ice Pavilion.

Connecticut had a five-minute power play in the third period and couldn’t get the puck past New York goalie Sojung Shin, who pitched her first shutout of the season.

The Whale did have their chances. Shin deflected a shot away from Sam Farber with 7:03 remaining in the game and about 30 seconds later, a shot from Juana Baribeau deflected off the post and sailed across the crease behind Shin but not into the net.

When New York’s Madison Packer was called for interference with 2:58 remaining, Connecticut coach Heather Linstad pulled goalie Nicole Stock with 1:51 go to, giving the Whale a 6-on-4 advantage. The Riveters were still able to kill off the penalty.

Packer scored an empty net goal from her knees with 38 seconds left in regulation to ice the contest. Packer got ahead of Connecticut defenseman Nicole Kosta, who tried to stop her by tripping her. Packer fell to her knees but was able to control the puck and pop it into the empty net.

Connecticut dominated the first period but it was New York that got onto the scoreboard with just 2:36 gone in the game when Courtney Burke scored with a shot from the far left side of Stock that got inside the post.

New York dominated much of the play in the second period but Connecticut and Stock were able to keep the Riveters off the scoreboard. Stock (3-2) made 16 saves in the game. Barbieau, Meagan Mangene and Micaela Long each had four shots each for Connecticut.

Connecticut returns to action on Saturday, January 7 when they host Buffalo here at Northford Ice Pavilion at 7 p.m.

New York 2, Connecticut 0
At North Branford
New York (3-5-2)              1  0  1  — 2
Connecticut (4-5)              0  0  0  — 0
First period
New York 1, Courtney Burke (Janine Weber, Miye D’Oench), 2:36; Penalties: Gabie Figueroa (NY) cross checking, 5:32|
Second period
No scoring. Penalties: Molly Engstrom (CT), goaltender interference, 1:18
Third period
New York 2, Madison Packer (Janine Weber, Miye D’Oench), 19:21 (en); Penalties: Milica McMillen (NY) body checking, game misconduct, 0:53; Meagan Mangene (CT), slashing, 7:14; Nicole Kosta (CT), tripping, 19:27
Shots on goal: New York 18 (6-7-5); Connecticut 27 (11-6-10)
Saves: Nicole Stock, Connecticut (L, 3-2), 16 saves, 17 shots; Sojung Shin, New York (W, 2-2), 27 saves, 27 shots

Saturday, Dec. 10
Connecticut 6, Buffalo 1
Sunday, Dec. 11
Connecticut 4, New York 2
Sunday, Dec. 18
New York 2, Connecticut 0
Saturday, Jan. 7
Boston at New York, TBD
Buffalo at Connecticut, 7 p.m.