Fleet unable to thaw Minnesota.
The first period was mostly quiet with both teams feeling each other out. Boston took two penalties that had most of the action. In the first penalty kill Minnesota had a few point blank opportunities that Frankel was up to task handling. The second shorthanded situation saw the Fleet take much more control throughout the two minutes and capped the kill off with a Hilary Knight breakaway, as the penalty expired, that went harmlessly into the Minnesota keepers glove. While there were a few opportunities late neither team could solve the Team USA goalies.
In the second frame it was all Minnesota early as the Fleet reverted to their inability to put the puck on net. Despite a few highlight reel saves by Frankel the Frost eventually snuck one by here in the middle of the period. In the waning minutes of the period the Frost hit Alina Mueller in the head badly enough it was initially called a major but was then down graded to a minor. On the ensuing power play Boston managed only a single shot on net and it was mostly a struggle to connect passes with the extra skater. Mueller would not return and post game interviews did not give much optimism about her imminent return.
Boston decided to leave port in the final period of regulation as they put some pressure on Rooney. On their third shot of the period Knight tipped a shoot over Rooney’s shoulder to level the score at 1-1. Afterwards they were able to sustain some possession which got the crowd into the game. This momentum would quickly relent and Minnesota reasserted their dominance and eventually a shot from the point went straight over Fankels shoulder to return the lead to the Frost permanently. Boston was mostly becalmed for the remainder of the game and was unable to pull Frankel until late, she had left the net but sprinted back to make a final save. Knight had a few good opportunities with the extra skater but nothing found twine as Boston was unable to equalize.
Highlights:
Game Notes
- The shooting woes continue. The Fleet’s bombardment capabilities will need serious attention if they hope to make the playoffs.
- Another good game from the goalies on both sides. Frankel was forced to make more spectacular saves in the losing effort.
- The penalty kill for the Fleet was very effective, on their second call to duty they actually had more of the good opportunities. the PP, however, was ineffective after losing Mueller.
- The penalty against Minnesota for contact to the head of Mueller was called as a Major initially on the ice. After an extremely lengthy review with was downgraded to a minor. The league provided the following statement regarding the decision:
- The Ice Garden’s Lydia Murray shared the following clip of the incident. After the game Coach Kessel said she was told that the penalty was downgraded because it was Mueller’s stick that made contact with her head. The box score also calls the incident accidental.
Going back to the 2nd period for a moment, here’s a look at the hit on Müller courtesy of @mayaxeverysport. Regardless of intent, I don’t see how this got downgraded to a minor. Flaherty catches nothing but head. You have to punish dangerous hits properly to eliminate them. pic.twitter.com/4ln4L2BmEc
— Lydia Murray (@lydia_murray12) December 5, 2024
- No immediate news of Mueller’s status was given but they are “evaluating.” Likely she will be out for at least the next game and we will see who steps in, assumption is Jillian Dempsey will get the nod.
- Boston will continue their homestand on Sunday as they play host to New York. The sirens are currently in first place and have only dropped a point so far.