ST. PAUL, Minn. — Boston avoided elimination in dramatic fashion with a 1-0 double-overtime victory against Minnesota on Sunday night in Game 4 of the PWHL Finals.
The game had four, nervy, scoreless periods of hockey, but still had plenty of high-danger chances, action at both ends of the ice and a would-be series-clinching goal overturned. More than anything, it was a high-stakes goalie battle between Aerin Frankel (Boston) and Nicole Hensley (Minnesota) who combined for 51 saves heading into the final frame.
In the end, Alina Müller scored the first and only goal (that counted) with 1:24 left in the game in front of 13,104 fans at the Xcel Energy Center. Sophie Jaques, who was drafted by Boston and traded to Minnesota in February, appeared to score the game-winner just one minute earlier, but the goal was overturned due to goaltender interference.
PWHL Minnesota believed they had just won the first Walter Cup, but the goal was overturned for goaltender interference 😳
(via @Buccigross) pic.twitter.com/tOuNTUCQnu
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 27, 2024
Frankel returned to her clutch form with 33 saves on 33 shots.
The victory snaps a two-game losing streak for Boston and pushes the league’s best-of-five series to a decisive Game 5 on Wednesday night back in Boston.
Here are three quick takeaways from the game.
Better start for Boston
In Game 3 on Friday night, Boston was in a hole 59 seconds after puck drop. With their backs against the wall, and facing a series loss, Boston had a much better start on Sunday night, outshooting Minnesota 9-8 in the first period.
The team did a much better job at keeping Minnesota pinned to the boards with a more consistent forecheck and made the neutral zone a battle to get through. They won a lot of puck battles and played a really physical game, going particularly hard at Minnesota’s stars like Taylor Heise.
Minnesota only put three shots on goal in the 11 minutes of the period, and picked up a bit in the second half, but still weren’t able to get past Frankel.
On the other side of the ice, Boston had more sustained offensive zone time in the first period and tested Hensley early in the game, who was just as solid as Frankel for the majority of the game.
Aerin Frankel comes up big (again)
Sunday night was exactly what you’d expect from Frankel in a do-or-die game: 33 saves for her league-leading fifth win of the postseason, and first shutout.
Frankel was the biggest reason Boston even advanced to the Finals with 141 saves in a three-game upset sweep of Montreal. That she gave up 10 goals in her first three games of the Finals was uncharacteristic, though not entirely her fault. Some shots, she was screened, or had a tip. Others she was beaten by a great shot or good move. But still, there were plenty of those against Montreal and Frankel only yielded four goals against.
Game 4 was a return to her playoff form, particularly late in the game when she made nine saves in the third period and 13 in both overtime periods.
“She knows what’s at stake and this is when she really shines,” Dave Flint, the longtime Northeastern coach, told The Athletic this week.
Frankel has now played in seven overtime periods in the playoffs and not allowed a goal against for four overtime wins.
“Not only can she elevate in games that matter, but also within the game when the pressure starts to ramp up,” said Boston goalie coach Clay Adams.
The special teams battle
Boston still hasn’t managed to score on the power play yet this postseason, and had four chances to do just that on Sunday night, including in both overtime periods. Boston entered the playoffs with the worst power play in the league (7.5 percent) so it shouldn’t be all that surprising it’s been flat in the playoffs too.
But the team’s penalty kill was sharp in Game 4 and helped keep the season alive with five massive kills, including two in the third period. On each third-period power play, Minnesota only got two shots on Frankel, which she turned away to keep the game 0-0 and force overtime.
This story will be updated
(Photo: David Berding / Getty Images)
