
Connecticut’s Emily Fluke scored in the shootout to lift to the Whale to a 3-2 shootout win over the Boston Pride Friday night.
BOSTON, February 2 – This time, the Connecticut Whale got rewarded for their hard work.
A week ago, the Whale became the first team to push the then-undefeated Metropolitan Riveters into overtime but lost with 32 seconds left in OT. On Friday night, the Whale went to overtime for the fourth time this season.
Connecticut’s Emily Fluke scored in the fifth round of the shootout to lift the Whale to a 3-2 National Women’s Hockey League victory over the Boston Pride in a shootout, snapping a seven-game losing streak. Goalie Sydney Rossman made 19 saves along with four stops in the shootout as the Whale (3-7-2) won for the first time since beating the Pride in a shootout on November 19.
Sydney Daniels had two goals for the Pride (2-6-4), who have dropped six straight games including back-to-back losses in shootouts.
Daniels gave Boston a quick 1-0 lead only to see Connecticut respond with 7:53 left in the first period on a goal from Jordan Brickner – her first of the season.
Daniels scored with just 1:11 gone in the second period to again give the Pride a one-goal lead but the Whale took advantage of a poor change with Jamie Goldsmith scoring her third goal of the season on a breakaway with 6:28 left in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.
Boston goalie Brittany Ott was outstanding – especially in the third period when Connecticut had multiple power plays. She stopped Kacey Anderson on a breakaway with 2:09 remaining after Anderson worked the puck up the boards and got into open ice.
In the overtime, the Whale had a 4-on-3 power play opportunity after a tripping call but couldn’t generate much offense.
In the shootout, Boston’s Jordan Smelker scored in the second round over Rossman’s shoulder. But Goldsmith came right back and snuck one past Ott to tie the shootout at 1-1. Ott and Rossman each made some nice pad saves in the shootout.
But Fluke won it for the Whale with a shot over Ott’s shoulder in the fifth round.
The Whale return to action on Saturday, February 18 when they travel to Newark, N.J., to face the first place Riveters. The next home game in Stamford is Sunday, February 25, at 2:30 p.m.
For Whale players will be participating in next Sunday’s NWHL All-Star Game in Minneapolis at the NHL Minnesota Wild’s state-of-the-art practice facility. Forwards Kelly Babstock and Sam Faber will be playing on Team Leveille with Rossman and defender Amanda Boulier on Team Ott.
Connecticut 3, Boston 2, SO
At Boston
Connecticut 1 1 0 0 – 2
Boston 1 1 0 0 — 2
First period
Boston 1, Sydney Daniels; Connecticut 1, Jordan Brickner (Emily Fluke), 13:07; No penalties
Second period
Boston 2, Sydney Daniels (Kaleigh Fratkin), 1:11; Connecticut 2, Jamie Goldsmith (Kaycie Anderson), 14:42; Penalties: Juana Baribeau (CT) hooking, 6:53; Emily Fluke (CT) minor, 8:46; Kaleigh Fratkin (B), unsportsmanlike conduct, 19:27, roughing, 19:27
Third period
No scoring. Penalties: Dana Trivigno (B) unsportsmanlike conduct, game misconduct (10:00) 6:09; Sam Faber (CT) tripping, 10:58
Overtime
No scoring. Penalties: Heather Schwartz (B) tripping, 1:10
Shootout
Boston: Sydney Daniels, Jordan Smelker (shot made), Corey Stearns, Dana Trivigno, Emily Field
Connecticut: Shannon Doyle, Jamie Goldsmith (shot made), Megan Huertas, Sam Faber, Emily Fluke (shot made)
Goalies: Boston, Brittany Ott, 16 shots, 14 saves; Connecticut, Sydney Rossman 21 shots, 19 saves
Shots: Connecticut 16 (5-6-3-2), Boston 21 (7-8-5-1)
NWHL standings | W-L-OL | Pts | GF | GA | |
Metropolitan | 11-1 | 22 | 52 | 21 | |
Buffalo | 8-4 | 16 | 35 | 34 | |
Connecticut | 3-7-2 | 8 | 21 | 41 | |
Boston | 2-6-4 | 8 | 24 | 36 | |
Friday’s result Connecticut 3, Boston 2, SO Saturday’s result Buffalo 5, Metropolitan 3 |
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Sunday, February 11 NWHL All-Star Game at Minnesota, 11:30 a.m. |
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Sunday, February 18 Connecticut at Metropolitan (Newark NJ), 1:30 p.m. Buffalo at Boston, 2:30 p.m. |
Since 2009, the Collinsville Press has been providing award-winning coverage of sports and news in the Farmington Valley and across Connecticut.


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