Deflected goal helps Whale remain undefeated

Connecticut’s Kelly Babcock’s shorthanded goal gave the Whale an early 1-0 lead in Sunday’s game at Buffalo. It was the first shorthanded goal in team history.

BUFFALO, Nov. 15 – It wasn’t the prettiest goal but it still counted and helped the Connecticut Whale remain undefeated with a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Beauts in National Women’s Hockey League action at the Harbor Center Sunday.

Tied at 2-2 late in the third period, Connecticut’s Danielle Ward was trying to make a pass across the ice in front of the Buffalo goal. Her pass deflected off a Buffalo defender and past Beaut goalie Kim Sass with 55 seconds remaining.

Connecticut is only undefeated team left in the NWHL after four weeks with a 4-0 record. Boston (3-1) lost to New York on Sunday night, 3-2.

The Whale goal stopped a Buffalo rally that saw the Beauts (0-4) erased an early two-goal Connecticut lead.

Buffalo’s Devon Skeats scored just 53 seconds into the third period to cut the Whale lead to one, 2-1 off nice work from teammates Shelby Bram and Meghan Duggan. The Beauts tied the game less than four minutes later on a Kourtney Kunichika goal with 15:44 remaining.

Buffalo had 12 shots in the third period but Whale goalie Jamie Leonoff was up to the task. She made 24 saves on the day, including several spectacular saves in the third period to keep the game tied at 2-2.

Connecticut led 2-0 after two periods. The Whale took an early lead when Kelly Babstock scored a short-handed goal on a slap shot. It was the first short-handed goal in team history and her team-leading third goal of the season. Kelli Stack made it 2-0, scoring on a slap shot of her own with 8:24 left in the second period.

The Whale travel to Buffalo again next Sunday for a 3:30 p.m. faceoff before traveling to Boston to face the Pride for the first time on Sunday, Nov. 29, at Harvard’s Bright-Landry Hockey Center. The Whale return home to Chelsea Pier in Stamford on Sunday, Dec. 6 when they will host Buffalo at 4:30 p.m.  

Connecticut 3, Buffalo 2
At Buffalo
Connecticut (4-0)             0  2  1 – 3
Buffalo (0-4)                     0  0  2 — 2
First period – No scoring
Second period – 1, Connecticut, Kelly Babstock 3 (Kate Buesse 1) shorthanded, 18:20; 2. Connecticut, Kelli Stack 2 (Jessica Koizumi 1), 8:32
Third period – 1, Buffalo, Devon Skeats (Shelby Bram,Meghan Duggan), 19:07; 2. Buffalo Kourtney Kunichika (Hailey Browne), 15:44; 3. Connecticut, Danielle Ward 1, 0:55
Shots on goal: Connecticut – 6-10-9, 25; Buffalo 8-6-12, 26
Power play opportunities: Connecticut 0-4; Buffalo 0-10
Goalies: Connecticut – Jamie Leonoff (2-0) 24 saves; Buffalo – Kimberly Sass 22 saves
Attendance: