SAINT PAUL, MN (April 27, 2024) – Hannah Brandt scored with 2.7 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Boston to a 2-1 victory against Minnesota at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday afternoon.
The game looked to be headed to overtime with the game tied 1-1 but Brandt broke free in Minnesota’s zone with just seconds remaining after taking a feed from Hilary Knight who was just inside the blue line.
Brandt snapped the puck over Minnesota goaltender Nicole Hensley’s glove to give her team a 2-1 win — and three points in the standings as they battle for a playoff spot.
Ottawa’s 2-0 loss to Montréal earlier in the day gave Boston additional life as they continue chasing both Ottawa and Minnesota in the standings.
Goaltender Emma Söderberg stood tall for Boston, making 23 straight saves before Minnesota was able to break through late in the second period.
Kelly Pannek provided the lone marker for Minnesota with 1:10 remaining in the middle frame, on Minnesota’s 24th shot on goal.
After defender Sophie Jaques held the line, Michela Cava took the puck and found Kendall Coyne Schofield at the left circle. Coyne Schofield fired a shot on goal, which Söderberg turned aside, but Pannek, who was parked at the top of the crease, capitalized on the rebound, scoring her fourth of the season.
Boston entered the third period being outshot 24-12, but they pushed back, outshooting Minnesota 18-8 in the frame.
Rookie Alina Müller tied the game 1-1 just 1:42 into the third with a powerplay marker.
With their powerplay set up in the offensive zone, Müller and defender Megan Keller passed the puck back and forth before Müller snapped it on goal from the top of the left circle, beating Hensley blocker side.
Minnesota needed just one point to secure their own playoff spot, but Brandt’s buzzer-beater kept the home team from punching their ticket to the postseason.
Söderberg made a season-high 31 saves to pick up her fourth win of the season. Hensley stopped 28 in the loss.
Up next, Minnesota takes on Toronto on Wednesday, May 1 at Mattamy Athletic Centre as they continue their quest to secure a playoff position. Boston plays their final game of the season next Saturday, May 4 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell against Montréal.
Postgame Quotes:
Boston forward Hannah Brandt: “It really hasn’t sunk in yet, but we needed that win so bad for our team. It felt good to come out on top in obviously a little bit of a nail-biter. Our team never gave up and I’m so proud of us for that. The third period was one of our best periods I think so far and Emma [Söderberg] kept us in there. She did amazing and gave us a chance to get the win at the end.”
Boston head coach Courtney Kessel: I felt like we were getting ready for 3-on-3, but I just feel like we had a tremendous third period. We came out, we owned them. The shots were 12-24 heading into the third period and the way we ended was pretty incredible. I feel like we earned that 2.7-second-left goal.”
Minnesota head coach Ken Klee: “We’re just finding ways to lose hockey games right now, which is unfortunate because we’ve played well and we had lots of chances to win the game or extend the lead. We were the better team for two periods and then, again, we find a way to lose in the last 2 minutes. It’s gut wrenching.”
Nicole Hensley – It’s pretty frustrating but I think we need to take away from the game that we played really well, and it was just a bad 10 minutes at the end of the game. We have to stop being in the mindset in the third period that we need to hold the lead, and we need to keep pushing to get the next one.”
Notes:
- Attendance: 9,997 – Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
- Three Stars: 1) Hannah Brandt 2) Emma Söderberg 3) Kelly Pannek
- Shots ended 32-30 in favor of Minnesota — They led the category in the first (12-6) and second (12-6), but Boston had the advantage in the third (18-8).
- Boston’s 18 shots in the third period is their highest total in any period this season.
- Minnesota’s Sophie Jaques led all players with eight shots on goal – Teammate Kendall Coyne Schofield along with Boston’s Hilary Knight and Jamie Lee Rattray finished second with four shots apiece.
- Boston was 1/2 on the powerplay — Minnesota was 0/3.
- Boston converted on the powerplay for the first time in five games.
- Megan Keller (BOS) led all skaters with 29:24 TOI — Lee Stecklein led Minnesota in ice-time, logging 25:36.
- Minnesota loses in regulation for the second straight game when leading after two periods.
- Brandt’s third period goal is the latest game-winner to be scored in regulation in PWHL history.
- Keller moves into a tie with Ella Shelton (NY) for second in scoring among PWHL defenders with 14 points (3G, 11A)— She also sits tied for fifth in assists league-wide.
- Alina Müller moves into a tie with Toronto’s Emma Maltais for third in rookie scoring — Müller has 15 points (4G, 11A) in 23 games.
- Müller is the first player to score two powerplay goals this season for Boston.
- Müller and Minnesota’s Coyne Schofield, Taylor Heise, and Grace Zumwinkle finish the season series with four points each.
- Coyne Schofield moves into a tie for tenth in league scoring with 16 points (6G, 10A).
- Boston wins the season series 8-7 in points over Minnesota, winning three of five games.
- The game was Minnesota’s final at home as the team held Fan Appreciation Day.
- Today’s crowd of 9,997 is the team’s third highest of the season.
- Minnesota finished the season with a 5-2-2-3 record and 21 points on home ice.
- Boston finished the season with a 5-1-1-5 record and 18 points as the road team.
- Boston (7-4-3-9) collects three points for the regulation win and are now tied in points with Ottawa, who has a game in hand, with 32.
- Minnesota (8-4-3-7) remains in third place with 35 points— They are three ahead of both Boston and Ottawa, three behind Toronto, and six behind Montréal.
- With Minnesota’s loss, Montréal becomes the first team to clinch home ice advantage in the semifinal round of the PWHL Playoffs.
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