Beauts and Riveters Split Weekend in Buffalo
Buffalo earns overtime win in game two (@BuffaloBeauts/Twitter)
BUFFALO - Hockey is back and what a two game series in Buffalo this weekend. The New York Riveters picked up their first win of the season on Saturday while the Buffalo Beauts came back for a 4-3 overtime win on Sunday.
The Riveters came into this weekend looking for their first points on the season and look great in the first 10 minutes of the first period. Rebecca Russo tallied the first score of the game early in the first to give New York a 1-0 lead over their instate rivals. Midway through the period, Corinne Buie scored on the power play to even the game at one. A short time after, Emily Janiga gave Buffalo the lead with her third score of the season.
In what was probably the cleanest and most competitive period of hockey all season long the Beauts and Whale skated through a scoreless second period where neither team scored or was given a penalty.
In the third the Riveters began their comeback when Kaleigh Fratkin even the score with a fantastic power play goal. Fratkin would also set up Miye D'Oench for the eventual game winning goal late in the third period.
Katie Fitzgerald got the start in net for the Riveters and made 27 saves and 11 in the third period to pick up her first career NWHL win and the Riveters first win of the season.
Game two was more of a role reversal for both teams, as this time it was Buffalo needing to stage a comeback to win game two on Sunday. The Riveters scored midway through the first and in the first few minutes of the second to take a 2-0 lead.
Buffalo looking to pick up win number two on the season and move into second place started to chip away at the lead when on the power play yet again, Buie made it a one goal game. New York continued to take unneccesary penalties in the period and it would cost them as Megan Bozek fired one past Fitzgerald to even the game at two.
In the third, Buffalo took a 3-2 lead on another power play goal for Buie, who has played much better with her new line mates. New York battled back and tied the game with another late goal this time it was Madison Packer finding the back of the net.
After some quick back and forth action in the overtime period, Emily Pfalzer skated in on net and put a shot on Fitzgerald, out of position Katie could not get back in time before the rebound found the stick of Shiann Darkangelo who buried it in the empty net for the overtime winner.
New York collected three points in buffalo this weekend.
The Beauts move in control of second place.
