LOWELL — Maybe all of the Boston Fleet wanted was a 24-day break to overcome its kryptonite.
Fixing the Toronto Sceptres has been a tall activity for the Fleet. Boston had dropped 4 of the 5 Skilled Girls’s Hockey League clashes.
However freshly faraway from a prolonged hiatus triggered by the 2025 IIHF Girls’s World Championship, the Fleet skated to a 3-0 win in entrance of a giant crowd of 5,619 on the Tsongas Middle on Saturday afternoon to stall the Sceptres from formally clinching a playoff berth whereas additionally protecting its personal hopes alive.
Klara Peslarova turned in a 29-save shutout in her first begin of the season for Boston as Lexie Adzija, Hannah Brandt and Theresa Schafzahl discovered twine to take three pivotal factors with solely two video games remaining within the common season. Boston (9-6-4-9) owns sole possession of third place with 43 factors in entrance of the Ottawa Cost (42 factors) and the Minnesota Frost (38 factors).
Solely Montreal has clinched a spot within the four-team playoff.
Boston’s had limped into the break on a three-game slide.
“Playoffs started when our puck dropped today,” mentioned Fleet head coach Courtney Kessel. “That’s the message we’ve talked about, and I’m sure it’s across the league. The standings are so, so close. It’s anyone’s game right now.”
Boston was outshot by a 29-15 margin, however Peslarova was lights-out between the pipes, stymying Toronto on a trio of energy play makes an attempt. Boston’s league-best penalty kill (85.1%) proved its mettle to stymie Toronto’s league-leading energy play (27.6%).
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity basically the whole season … and the girls helped me a lot,” Peslarova mentioned. “As I said already today in the locker room, they have my back, and I have theirs. I’m just grateful for this opportunity, because you never know when it’s going to come again.”
The Fleet didn’t waste any time reuniting with the Tsongas crowd, opening the scoring 2:35 into the primary interval. Boston gained a puck battle under the purpose line, enabling Jamie Lee Rattray to register her first of two assists on a slick go to Adzija.
Hannah Bilka, activated from long-term injured reserve for Saturday’s contest amid a plethora of roster transactions, additionally picked up an help. The promising rookie performed in her first sport since Jan. 31.
Kelly Babstock and defender Hadley Hartmetz additionally joined Boston’s roster from the Reserve Participant checklist, whereas Alina Müller and Amanda Pelkey have been positioned on long-term injured reserve. Jillian Dempsey was additionally moved to the Reserve Participant checklist.
Müller (7-12-19) shall be a giant loss for the Fleet. The ahead suffered a lower-body harm at Girls’s Worlds whereas representing Switzerland.
Boston doubled its lead with 8:13 left within the interval as Brandt discovered twine. Megan Keller, who leads all Fleet blueliners with 13 factors, surveyed the offensive zone up the fitting boards earlier than hitting Brandt within the slot.
The Fleet continued to manage play within the second, outshooting Toronto by a 10-6 margin and beating Kristen Campbell for a 3rd time with six seconds left on the clock. Rattray entered the zone on a Boston energy play, discovering a chopping Schafzahl on the back-door for the tap-in.
“Our fans are amazing,” Kessel mentioned. “At one point, Lowell wasn’t packed like it is today. They just continue to come. I definitely think playing at Lowell really boosts us and our momentum.”
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