New York Riveters Hold Off Beauts Rally
Riveters hot start leads them to 3-2 win over Beauts (@NYRiveters/Twitter)
NEWARK, NJ - Last week the NWHL announced a shortened season, and some major decisions that will impact the leagues future. The news is vital in the Isobel Cup playoff race as the seeding will now be based on win percentage instead of overall record. This is because some teams will have played more than others. The Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters have played musical chairs with the 2-4 seeds this season, Boston are pretty much a lock at one.
This means the upcoming games mean that much more to, one avoid Boston in the first round and two be able to host a playoff game on home ice. In the first game on the weekend Saturday, the Buffalo Beauts comeback fell just short in this weekends matchup against in-state rival, the New York Riveters. The Riveters scored three unanswered goals before the Beauts would get on on the board in the second.
The scoring got started at 13:24 when Janine Weber scored on a Amanda Kessel assist to give the Riveters a 1-0 lead. Just under five minutes later, Alexa Gruschow took a Kessel pass and buried it past Beauts goaltender, Brianne McLaughlin. After 20 minutes of play, the Riveters looked well in control of the game.
In the second period, Tatiana Rafter quickly made it a 3-0 lead for New York just 2:14 into the frame. The Beauts did not give up and just 30 seconds later Shiann Darkangelo got Buffalo on the scoring sheet and cut the deficit to two early in the second. Buffalo didn't need much time to get another quick strike, this time by Corinne Buie to make it 3-2 in favor of New York.
The remainder of the game was a battle of a defenses, New York outshot Buffalo 32-24 but could not find any more goals after that early second period score. The Beauts had plenty of scoring chances in the later stages of this game, but Katie Fitzgerald was just too good on the night and kept the Beauts quiet after the quick two goal strike in the second. Fitzgerald held down the fort making 22 saves on 24 shots.
The Riveters move into second place with the win on the weekend.
