NWHL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 3
NWHL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 3
#1. BOSTON PRIDE (2-0)
The Boston Pride have outscored opponents, 11-2 to start the season and are really clicking offensively. Sitting in first place after two weeks and showing an immense about of skill and composure in last weekends, physical matchup against the New York Riveters lands them at #1 this week. Brianna Decker and Hilary Knight have led the charge for the Pride, both are tied for first in Points, Goals and Assist in the NWHL, and have controlled the play while out on the ice. The Pride also displayed depth in the net minder position. Brittany Ott (32-33 Saves) has been amazing in week one and two (1st Period v. NY), but both Lauren Slebodnick (21-21) and Kelsie Fralick (11-11) displayed amazing work in net last Sunday night. The Pride will receive a challenge playing at Buffalo again this weekend. The Beauts 0-2 will be looking to redeem and opening day loss to the Pride at the HarborCenter.
#2. CONNECTICUT WHALE (2-0)
The CT Whale escaped Buffalo with a win last Sunday but displayed some great team work throughout the latter half of the first period. After falling behind 1-0, the Whale rallied behind goals by Alyssa Wohlfeiler (1st Period) and Sam Faber (2nd Period) to take the lead going into the third period. Both teams battled in the third but great offense and goaltending secured the win for the Whale. The Whale are definitely talented and just like Boston also showed that defense will win you games. Kelli Stack has been worth every dollar for the Whale leading the team in points and assists. Yes! CT is 2-0 and a 5-2 win over the Beauts puts them above Buffalo right now. It will be a matchup on the road in Brooklyn for the Whale this weekend lets hope they can find the arena in time!
#3. BUFFALO BEAUTS (0-2)
When you think about practice and ask yourself well can this work? Can adjustments be made during the weekly practices and executed during the game? Well Buffalo answered that this past weekend. The Beauts are 0-2 but this is a long season and it might actually favor the Buffalo more than any other team. For instance in Week one Buffalo had a few players missing off their roster playing a very talented Boston Pride team. Yet still managed to keep the Pride in check in that third period. Going into week two I really wanted to see this matchup between CT and Buffalo, and it led up to all the hype. The game was great, the ability for Buffalo to clean up the neutral zone, show some defensive effort and fight until the very end lands them at number three. However, Meghan Duggan cannot do it alone for the Beauts. They have some talent that hasn’t shown yet, look for the Beauts to get the offense clicking soon. If they can see their mistakes in game one vs. the Pride and adjust just as they did for the Whale, I can see Buffalo staying in the game against the Boston this weekend.
#4. NEW YORK RIVETERS (0-2)
I would be lying if I didn’t say I was a little surprised to see the Riveters start at 0-2 and not in the quality of the opponents but just the quality of play, The Riveters have some of the best players in the NWHL and not to mention highly recruited Nana Fujimoto in net. In week one the CT Whale exposed some lapses on defense and in game two against the Pride, New York seemed to clean up those mistakes. Only they made a different mistake in the matchup against Boston. The game started physical and what can you say ITS BOSTON vs. NEW YORK… props to both teams for keeping tradition in order, but that third period slipped away from the Riveters. With three penalties in the last 11 minutes Boston put away the Riveters scoring four goals in the period. New York is very talented and when the offense moves you can see the opportunities they can create. The battle with Boston was trying to stay out of the penalty box, this weekend they will have to focus on Connecticut and redeeming the loss on opening day. The Riveters looked great in the first two periods against the Whale in week one. If they can clean up the third period of both the last two games they have played look for the Riveters to pick up their first win on the season.
