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Isobel Cup Playoff Preview


MyWSports/Luis Sanchez

#1 Boston Pride vs #4 New York Riveters

Boston Pride: Boston is the top seed at 14-3-1. They have won 7 straight games and have averaged 5 goals per game over that stretch. They have Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker who are #1 and #2 in Goals, Assists and Points during the regular season. They have Brittany Ott in goal who has a 1.94 Goals Against Average which is 1.02 goals better than the next best goalie in the league.

New York Riveters: The Riveters finished last in the regular season at 4-12-2. The Riveters have only won 1 game in 2016 (in a shootout over Buffalo). Bray Ketchum scored 10 goals for the Riveters on the season. The goalie position has been split between Nana Fujimoto, Jenny Scrivens, Chelsea Laden, and Shenae Lundberg (CT). Fujimoto has had the most time in net and we would expect her to start this weekend as well.

Who will win? The Pride in 2 games. If the Pride continue to do what they have done in 2016, they will beat the Riveters in both games. The Pride attack the net and put the most shots on net of any NWHL team. The Riveters defense is not physical enough to stop that onslaught of the Pride.

How can the Riveters pull the upset? I have always believed in the “hot goalie theory.” In hockey, any team can win if you get a hot goalie. Whichever goalie the Riveters go with, they will have to stand on their head and carry the Riveters past the Pride. The Riveters could support the defense by pulling the forwards deeper into the zone, this would probably effect the offense, but the only way the Riveters can win is to keep the Pride scoring down.

MyWSports/Luis Sanchez

#2 Connecticut Whale vs #3 Buffalo Beauts

Connecticut Whale: The Whale finished the regular season 13-5-0 after starting 11-0-0, they dropped 5 games, all to the Pride. Connecticut ran into management issues and team uncertainty during their slide. Offensively, the Whale are powerful with Shiann Darkangelo (10 goals), Kelli Stack and Kelly Babstock (22 points each). Similar to the Riveters, the Whale have used multiple goalies this year. Jaimie Leonoff was their top goalie, going 7-3 with a 2.96 GAA, but also saw time from Nicole Stock, Chelsea Laden (NY) and Shenae Lundberg.

Buffalo Beauts: The Beauts have been the most dichotomous team in the NWHL this year. They finished 5-9-4, with 6 overtime or shootout games and 3 one goal games. The Beauts are small in stature, but scrappy on the ice. Buffalo is led by Kelly Steadman’s 13 goals and 20 points, but also got 9 goals of productivity out of Devon Skeats and Koutney Kunichika. The Beauts goaltending has been split between Brianne Mclaughlin (14 games) and Amanda Makela (6 games). The Beauts smaller size has hurt them with the worst Penalty Kill Percentage in the NWHL.

Who will win? Connecticut in 3, this is going to be a great series with at least one game going to overtime. The Beauts and Whale have played to overtime or a shootout 3 times and a 1 goal game once. The Beauts haven’t been able to beat the Whale yet this year, but with the familiarity of these two teams, the Beauts know the Whale and know how to play with them. The Whale still have the Beauts number though and have a great offense. If that offense can return to early season form, the Whale will hold on to win.

How can the Beauts pull the upset? The Beauts are small, but scrappy. McLaughlin is a great goalie who can slow the Whale offense herself. The Beauts aren’t as deep as the Whale, however if Duggan, Steadman and Skeats can attack the net, the Pride have shown that Leonoff can be susceptible to rebounds. The Beauts have been so close to beating the Whale all year, if they win game 1, they may be able to put the Whale

Follow Kyle Wescott on twitter @MHSWescott


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