Connecticut’s Kaleigh Fratkin scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season with 1:07 in regulation to send the game into overtime. The Whale improved to 7-0 with a 3-2 shootout win over Buffalo. (NWHL photo courtesy Troy Parla)
STAMFORD, Dec. 6 – The Connecticut Whale erased a two-goal deficit, tied the game with 1:07 left in regulation and went on to beat the Buffalo Beauts, 3-2 in a shootout Sunday at Cheslea Piers to remain the lone undefeated team in the National Women’s Hockey League.
In front of a sellout crowd, the Whale improved to 7-0 with its second shootout win over Buffalo in the last three weeks.
Trailing by a goal, Connecticut pulled goalie Jamie Leonoff with about 1:18 remaining in the game. Shiann Darkangelo dug the puck out of the corner and whipped a pass to Connecticut’s leading scorer Kaleigh Fratkin, who blasted a shot under the crossbar past Buffalo keeper Amanda Makela to tie the game with 1:07 left. Connecticut’s Sam Faber was sitting right in front of Makela to effectively screen the goalie.
It was Fratkin’s team-leading fifth goal of the season. She is Connecticut’s leading scorer with five goals and six assists for 11 points.
After a scoreless five-minute overtime session, the Whale prevailed in a shootout, 3-1. Kelly Babstock, Jessica Koizumi and Kelli Stack each scored for Connecticut. The shot by Buffalo’s first shooter Devon Skeats was wide of the net.
Buffalo (1-5-2) took a quick 1-0 lead when Meghan Duggan took a nice pass from Erin Zach and beat Leonoff to the left side and into the upper corner of the net with just 51 seconds gone in the game. It was Duggan’s third goal of the season.
Buffalo extended its lead to 2-0 in a penalty-filled second period as the Whale committed six penalties and were outshot 13-4. Shelby Bram scored on a power play goal from Kelly McDonald with 13:30 gone in the second period. Connecticut’s Molly Engstrom was thrown out of the game with 14:59 left after receiving a game misconduct with an illegal check to the head of Buffalo’s Duggan.
Duggan lay on the tie for a few seconds and slow got to her feet. She left the game and didn’t return.
Connecticut’s Sam Faber cut the Buffalo lead to one with a splendid goal. She raced down the left side of the ice from center ice and ripped a shot over the stick of Makela with 9:07 remaining in the second period.
The Whale played better in the third period, not committing any penalties and actually outshooting Buffalo, 6-5 in the period.
Leonoff made 25 saves to earn her fifth win of the season.
Connecticut plays at New York (2-5) next Sunday at 4 p.m. before taking a week off for the holiday. The Whale return to action on Sunday, Dec. 27, at Chelsea Pier when they host Boston at 4:30 p.m. In early January, the Whale will play two games in two days.
The Whale will host New York on Saturday, Jan. 9, at Yale’s Ingalls Rink at 7:30 p.m. before coming back to Stamford on Sunday to host Buffalo in a 6 p.m. start.
If you missed the game, you can watch the contest on You Tube below.
Connecticut 3, Buffalo 2
At Stamford
Buffalo (1-5-2) 1 1 0 0 — 2
Connecticut (7-0) 0 1 1 0 — 3
Connecticut won in a shootout, 3-1
First period
1 – Buffalo, Meghan Duggan (Erin Zach), 0:51
Penalties — Hailey Browne (Buffalo), tripping, 14:13; Kaleigh Fratkin (Connecticut), tripping, 16:07
Second period
2 – Buffalo, Shelby Bram (Kelly McDonald), 6:30 (pp); 1 – Connecticut, Sam Faber, 10:53 (pp)
Penalties — Browne (Buffalo), slashing, 4:44; Danielle Ward (Connecticut), slashing, 4:44; Molly Engstrom (Connecticut), illegal check to the head and game misconduct, 5:01; Devon Skeats (Buffalo), hooking, 10:30; Danielle Ward (Connecticut), interference, 11:14; Sam Faber (Connecticut), cross checking, 13:35; Fratkin (Connecticut), cross-checking 14:29; Emily Pfalzer (Buffalo), cross checking, 19:35
Third period
2 – Connecticut, Kaleigh Fratkin (Shiann Darkangelo), 18:53
Penalties – none
Overtime
No scoring or penalties
Shootout – Connecticut 3 (Kelly Babstock G, Jessica Koizumi G, Kelli Stack G); Buffalo 1 (Devon Skeats NG, Kourtney Kunichika G, Emily Pfalzer did not shoot)
Shots on goal – Connecticut 23 (11-4-6-1), Buffalo 29 (7-13-5-2)
Power-play opportunities – Connecticut 2-3; Buffalo 1-6
Goalies – Connecticut, Jamie Leonoff (27 shots, 25 saves), Buffalo – Amanda Makela (22 shots, 20 saves)
NWHL standings
W-L-T OL Pts
Connecticut 7-0-0 0 14
Boston 5-3-0 0 10
New York 2-5-0 0 4
Buffalo 1-5-2 2 4
Saturday’s result
Boston 7, Buffalo 6
Sunday’s result
Connecticut 3, Buffalo 2, shootout
Boston 4, New York 1
Sunday, Dec. 13
Connecticut at New York, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20
Buffalo at Boston, 3 p.m.
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