Connecticut Whale Move Into Second Place With Two Wins This Weekend
- Dec 12, 2016
- 3 min read
Connecticut defeats Buffalo 6-1 in home opener (@NWHL/Twitter)
Buffalo Beauts vs. Connecticut Whale
NORTHFORD, CT - The Connecticut Whale welcomed in the Buffalo Beauts Saturday night for their first home game of the season at Northford Ice Pavilion in Connecticut. The home team did not disappoint as the Whale put six goals on the scoreboard to defeat the Beauts 6-1 in front of their hometown fans.
The scoring started when former Quinnipiac Bobcat, Nicole Kosta skated in on Brianne McLaughlin and found the back of the net for the shorthanded goal and a 1-0 Whale lead. Shortly after, Connecticut worked into the offensive zone and Kelli Stack doubled the Whale lead to 2-0. Connecticut controlled the puck for most of the first period outshooting Buffalo 20-2 in frame.
In the second period, the Whale continued their offensive push against the Beauts. Four minutes into the period, Sam Faber snuck one past McLaughlin for a 3-0 Whale lead. Buffalo looked to get back into it after going down by three, but Kosta was having none of it, finding the back of the net for the second time in the game and giving Connecticut a commanding 4-0 lead. Corinne Buie got one back for buffalo on the power play, but that would be the only time the Beauts would figure out Nicole Stock in net.
In the third period, Stack scored her second of the game combining with Dana Trivigno and Haley Skarupa. The all Boston College line would not travel to New York for the Sunday matchup due to National team commitments. Sam Faber put away the game with her second goal of the game to make it a 6-1 final for Connecticut.
The Whale outshot the Beauts 42-21, with Stock making 20 save and preventing five of six power play opportunities. The win snapped a three game winless streak for the Whale.
Connecticut defeats New York 4-2 in Newark (@NWHL/Twitter)
Connecticut Whale vs. New York Riveters
NEWARK, NJ - Less than 24 hours after defeating the Buffalo Beauts, the Connecticut Whale traveled to Newark, New Jersey to take on the New York Riveters. The Whale missing some of their biggest offensive threats in Kelli Stack, Dana Trivigno, and Haley Skarupa battled back to defeat the Riveters 4-2.
The Whale used the momentum from the night before to start the first period dominating the Riveters. In the first 10 minutes of the game Connecticut outshot New York 6-2 and Kelly Babstock found the back of the net to give the Whale a 1-0 lead. However, New York turned up the pressure and got back in the shot count and prevented the Whale from increasing the lead going into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Riveters took it to the Whale and put pressure on Nicole Stock and the defense. On a neutral ice turnover, Taylor Holze got the back end of a beautiful tic-tac-toe pass to even the game five minutes into the frame. Just 46 seconds later, Captain Ashley Johnston took the Riveters next possession and skated in on Stock and gave the New York their first lead of the game. Not to be outdone, Connecticut got in on the scoring frenzy when Babstock scored her second of the game to cap off a three goal scoring spurt in 1:22 of game time
All even at 2-2 going into the third, the Whale found themselves on the penalty kill. On a great defensive play Connecticut worked into the Riveters zone and Babstock scored the shorthanded goal to get her first career hat trick but most importantly gave the Whale a 3-2 lead. Late in the third Nicole Connery netted the insurance goal for Connecticut to make the final 4-2.
New York outshot Connecticut 25-24 but went 0 for 5 on the power play. Katie Fitzgerald took the loss while Nicole Stock picks up her second win in as many days making 23 saves. The Whale moved into second place in the NWHL Standings following their weekend sweep of the New York teams.
On Monday, Connecticut defender Ivana Bilic made her departure official becoming the second player to leave the league due to the financial cutback on player salaries. Bilic was a recent graduate of Bemidji State and was in her first season with the Connecticut Whale.
Comments