Just like their last matchup when the Buffalo Beauts ended the Metropolitan Riveters winning streak, the defending champs rallied from a deficit and won the game in the third period, this time in New Jersey by a score of 4-3. The win extends Buffalo’s winning streak to eight games, and prevented their rivals from clinching the first seed in the NWHL standings.
Two minutes into the third period the Rivs took a 3-1 lead on a 5-on-3 power play goal but that was just setting the stage for another Beauts comeback. The Buffalonians were led by balanced scoring from their top trio of Hayley Scamurra (1g), Maddie Elia (1g-1a), and Kourtney Kunichika (1g-1a) — each player contributing to the three-goal third period. Three goals in less than five minutes left the Riveters and the crowd stunned as the Beauts rolled out of New Jersey with a win.
For the Riveters it was a second loss in their past three games as they try to right the ship as the playoffs approach. Rebecca Russo and Kelsey Koelzer each scored power play goals, and Rebecca Morse scored her second career goal in the losing effort for the home team.
Missed opportunities were a killer for the Rivs, especially on the power play, where they were 2-7 in the game. The Beauts meanwhile turned a penalty kill into a 4-on-4, which turned into a power play – which turned into Elia’s goal, which tied the game. Two minutes later it was Buffalo’s all-time leading scorer Kunichika who netted the eventual game-winner.
Game Notes: Scamurra, Russo, and Kiira Dosdall led all players with four shots on goal in the game. Amanda Leveille made 22 saves in the win and Katie Fitzgerald had 14 saves for the Rivs in the loss. Hillary Crowe skated on a line with Alexa Gruschow and Bray Ketchum in her NWHL/Riveters debut after signing with the club on Thursday.
