by Austin Jankowiak
STAMFORD, CT— The Buffalo Beauts played against the Connecticut Whale on Saturday night in the second game of their three game series.
Kelley Steadman made her return to the lineup known early in the game, getting multiple opportunities for the Beauts and testing Jaimie Leonoff. Steadman would score the first playoff goal in Beauts history halfway through the period, shooting it high right side past the outstretched glove of Jaimie Leonoff. Hailey Browne of the Beauts would go to the box for tripping late in the period, putting the Beauts in penalty trouble. The Beauts killed off the penalty and took the puck down the ice, with Devon Skeats netting the second goal of the game for them on a second try after a Kelly McDonald shot. The Beauts would head to locker room ahead of the Whale, 2-0.
The Beauts came out onto the ice in the second frame and didn’t skip a beat, continuing where they left off. Kaleigh Fratkin would make the mistake of giving the red-hot Beauts a power play, as she went to the box with a body checking minor penalty. The Beauts would take advantage and widen their lead. After a puck cycle involving Kelley Steadman and Lindsay Grigg, the puck would find its way onto the stick of Megan Bozek, who would take a shot from the point through traffic. Bozek’s goal would come only 30 seconds into the period. The Whale would finally answer back to the Beauts, with Kelly Babstock scoring their first of the night with assists from Micaela Long and Sam Faber.
The Connecticut Whale came out knowing the third period was do or die for them, at least in this game. Emily Pfalzer and Danielle Ward would both take off-setting penalties for roughing, but the open ice helped neither team, though, and the score remained 3-1 with under seven minutes to go. Although the Beauts and Whale would have a couple more opportunities, playing back-and-forth hockey, the score wouldn’t be changed until there was less then 3:00 left on the clock. A Connecticut last ditch effort by pulling the goalie would leave the net open for Hailey Browne, who would put the Beauts up 4-1.
The Beauts stay alive in the series with a win tonight and they will play the Whale tomorrow night at 6:00PM to determine who gets to move on in the Isobel Cup playoffs. The winner of tomorrow night’s game will go up against the Boston Pride, who won their series against the Riveters tonight.
