Connecticut’s Taylor Girard had four points (two goals, two assists) in Sunday’s PHF win over Metropolitan.
All they needed was a little space to roam and get off some shots.
Absent the pesky defense that they’ve seen from the Boston Pride in their past two games, the Connecticut Whale got two goals each from Taylor Girard and Katerina Mrazova Sunday to lead the Whale to a 6-0 rout over the Metropolitan Riveters in Premier Hockey Federation play at the Rink at American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J.
The six-goal margin of victory was the most one-sided win for Connecticut in team history. Three times, the Whale had won by five goal margins, including once against Boston last season.
Connecticut goalie Meeri Raisanen picked up her first shutout of the season, making 23 saves.
The Whale took charge immediately with Girard, the team’s leading scorer, putting the puck into the net with just 1:10 gone in the game off an assist from Shannon Turner. Less than four minutes later, Girard added her second goal of the game on the power play off an assist from Kennedy Marcment.
Connecticut made it 3-0 on a goal from Caitrin Lonegran with assists from Marchment and Girard. The Whale extended the lead to 4-0 in the second period on a goal from Emma Keenan with more assists from Marchment and Girard.
Marchment finished the game with three assists.
Girard, who leads Connecticut in goals (6), assists (8) and points (14), had her first four point game. That tied a team record for most points in a game with four other players. The most recent Whale player with four points was Emma Vlasic (1 goal, 3 assists) in January 2021 against Boston.
Mrazova had a pair of goals in the third period for Connecticut.
With the win, Connecticut moved into fourth place in the league. The Whale return to action on Saturday when they host the Montreal Force in a neutral site game in Pittsburgh.
Connecticut 6, Metropolitan 0
At East Rutherford, N.J.
Connecticut (4-4-1) 3 1 2 — 6
Metropolitan (4-8) 0 0 0 — 0
First period
Connecticut 1, Taylor Girard (Shannon Turner), 1:10; Connecticut 2, Girard (Kennedy Marchment), 5:58 (pp), Connecticut 3, Caitrin Lonegran (Marchment, Girard), 15:41; Penalties: Kendall Cornine (M);hooking; Ebba Berglund (M), holding
Second period
Connecticut 4, Emma Keenan (Girard, Marchment), 9:08; Penalties – Alyssa Wohlfeiler (CT) cross checking, 13:57
Third period
Connecticut 5, Katerina Mrazova (Melissa Samoskevich, Allie Munroe), 1:06; Connecticut 6, Mrazova (Samoskevich, Justine Reyes), 8:06; Penalties: none
Shots: Connecticut 34 (7-16-11), Metropolitan 23 (5-15-3); Power plays: CT 0-2, Metropolitan 0-1; Saves: Merri Raisanen (CT) 23, (W, 2-2); Evellina Makine (M) 4, Katie Burt (M) 24; Attendance: 300
Premier Hockey Federation
| Team | W-L-OTL | Pts | RW | OTW | SOW |
| Toronto | 9-1-2 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Boston | 9-2 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 6-4-2 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 4-4-1 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Metropolitan | 4-8 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Montreal | 4-5-1 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Buffalo | 1-6-1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Teams earn three points for a win in regulation and two points for a win in OT or in a shootout. Teams earn one point for a loss in OT or in the shootout | |||||
| Sunday’s results Connecticut 6, Metropolitan 0 Minnesota 5, Buffalo 3 Toronto 3, Montreal 2 Saturday’s results Toronto 3, Montreal 2 Minnesota 4, Buffalo 1 Boston 4, Metropolitan 1 Friday’s results Boston 5, Connecticut 2 |
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| Saturday, January 14 Connecticut vs. Montreal at Pittsburgh, 3 p.m. Minnesota at Metropolitan, 3 p.m. Buffalo at Boston, 7 p.m. Sunday, January 15 Minnesota at Metropolitan, 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 17 Buffalo at Connecticut (Milford), 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 18 Buffalo at Connecticut (Simsbury), 7:30 p.m. |
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