Connecticut Completes Comeback, Take Down Beauts in OT.

Connecticut Whale defeat Buffalo Beauts 3-2 in Overtime (NWHL/Twitter)

Danbury, CT - Following two losses to the Boston Pride, the Connecticut Whale needed a win to hold on to first in the NWHL standings. Buffalo, winners of two in a row, continue to play well and battled with the Whale to the very end. Shanae Lundberg made her Whale debut at Danbury Arena, and needed all 21 saves she made in net.

Late in the first period Connecticut got on the board first when, on the power play, Alyssa Wohlfeiler deflected a shot past Brianne Mclaughlin to give the Whale a 1-0 lead. Connecticut out shot Buffalo 11-2 in the first.

The two teams would battle back and forth in the second period. Buffalo tied the game when Shelby Bram scored just 11 seconds into the frame. Buffalo and Connecticut have been the center of some marquee matchups this season. The Beauts would take the lead when Hannah McGowan converted shorthanded to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead.

Connecticut would get a late goal from Kate Buesser to tie the game going into the third period. Although Connecticut was outshooting the Beauts to this point 23-6, but the score was tied 2-2.

The third period saw both teams settle down defensively, and although the penalties piled up for Connecticut, the team managed to kill the three in the third period. Mclaughlin made some huge saves for the Beauts late, and Lundberg also stood tall in net keeping the Beauts off the boards for the rest of the game.

In overtime, Molly Engstrom would break out and drive one past Mclaughlin, scoring the overtime winner to keep the Whale in first place. Connecticut will travel to Boston to face the Pride in a battle for first place on Valentines day.

Follow Luis Sanchez on Twitter @Luis_MyW