Alina Müller kept Boston’s Walter Cup hopes alive.
The Boston forward scored the game-winning goal in double overtime, as Boston topped Minnesota, 1-0, in Game 4 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Finals on Sunday. The game was played in front of over 13,104 fans at Xcel Energy Center.
A must-win victory, Boston has tied its best-of-five series for the Walter Cup, 2-2, forcing a fifth and deciding game Wednesday back at the Tsongas Center in Lowell at 7 p.m.
A tight-checking affair, the two teams were held scoreless through the end of regulation, with both goaltenders shining. Boston’s Aerin Frankel made 33 saves, while Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley made 32 stops for the shutout.
But in the end it was Müller who would have final say, scoring at 17:26 of double overtime.
Minnesota had a goal disallowed for goalie interference shortly before Boston’s game winner.
Boston came out firing in the first period with Loren Gabel leading the charge. Relegated to spare forward status to open the playoffs, Gabel added a much-needed spark to the team’s checking line with several good looks to open the game.
Meanwhile, the Boston defense kept close tabs on Minnesota sniper Taylor Heise. The tight checking of Jessica Digirolamo helped hold the PWHL playoff scoring leader without a shot in the scoreless stanza.
Denisa Křížová had Minnesota’s best opportunity in the closing seconds. The left winger was setup off a brilliant rush by Kelly Pannek but was turned away on a big save from Frankel. Boston outshot Minnesota 9-8 at the end of the first period. It marked only the second time the team had outshot its opponent in the series, something they continued to do in the following period.
Minnesota was held off on a pair of powerplay opportunities to open the second. Pannek provided a great scoring chance feeding Grace Zumwinkle in the final minutes. Zumwinkle’s shot was initially stopped by Frankel, with the loose puck drifting dangerously out in front of a wide open net, before being swatted away by a Boston defender.
Boston continued to struggle on its first two powerplay chances, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. Amanda Pelkey sent in Gigi Marvin with a great cross-ice feed, before getting denied by Hensley. The netminder made 19 saves in regulation, including stoning Susanna Tapani on a setup from Hilary Knight moments later. Boston outshot Minnesota 9-3 in the second period.
Minnesota was unable to breakthrough on three separate powerplay opportunities in the third, despite outshooting Boston 9-5, and 20-19 overall by the end of regulation.
Zumwinkle continued to be a cause for concern with several big rushes in the first OT session. Boston also had a golden opportunity to end it on the powerplay, but came up just short with Sophie Shirley getting stymied by Hensley on a point-blank save. The Boston powerplay were held scoreless in all 15 chances during the playoffs.
Minnesota outshot Boston 7-5 at the end of the first OT session, holding a 27-24 overall lead at that point.
Zumwinkle and Křížová kept Boston on edge converging on a 2-on-1 break with 11:30 left in the second OT, with Frankel standing firm.
Sophie Jaques appeared to put the game away in double OT burying a cross-ice feed from Taylor Heise at 17:26 but the goal was overturned due to goalie interference.
Boston changed up its forward lines for Game 4. Jamie Lee Rattray returned to the second line, Sophie Shirley and Gabel to the third line, and Pelkey to the fourth line. Minnesota made no changes to its lineup.
Christopher Hurley
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