LOWELL — Nearly two months had passed since the last time the Boston Fleet hit the ice at the Tsongas Center on Nov. 23.
But Boston looked like the same team that ignited a five-game winning streak with an exciting season-opening victory 52 days later, besting the Toronto Sceptres 2-1 on Wednesday in Professional Women’s Hockey League action.
The Fleet played 10 games and enjoyed winning streaks, thrilling victories and crushing defeats in its extended hiatus from its primary home venue. But fans from the Greater Lowell area were treated to a similar performance reminiscent of Boston’s 2-0 triumph over Montreal back in November.
Backed by stingy defense, strong goaltending and structured hockey, the Fleet (8-0-2-2) bounced back into the win column after dropping four of its last six contests in front of 3,372 fans.
“Going into the game, we knew it was going to be a low-scoring contest,” said Fleet head coach Kris Sparre. “I really liked our game. I liked that we stuck with it. We didn’t get rewarded on a lot of the chances that we had, but we found a way to grind one out.”
Aerin Frankel posted 21 saves, while Alina Müller and Shay Maloney lit the lamp to lead Boston to victory. Boston is the only team in the league that remains undefeated in its home state or province. The Fleet has won two games at the Tsongas Center and three games at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.
Maloney’s insurance goal with 3:06 left in the third period was timely as the visitors made a late push. Maloney crashed the net after releasing an initial shot on the cage to deposit a rebound tally. Toronto answered with 1:42 left in the game on a goal by Emma Maltais, but it was too late to mount a comeback.
Boston was all over Toronto from the drop of the puck in the Mill City. After Frankel denied Maltais just 1:19 into the game on a high-danger scoring chance, Boston held Toronto without a shot on goal until 10:28 of the first period.
It looked like Boston had capitalized on its early pressure as Megan Keller unleashed a booming one-timer into the back of the net on the power play with 2:50 to play in the first frame, but the goal was nixed due to goaltender interference as Abby Newhook made contact with Sceptres goalie Raygan Kirk in the blue paint.
But the Fleet got it right back just 45 seconds into the middle frame when Müller deflected a shot from the point off the stick of Haley Winn to officially break the ice. Winn, a smooth-skating rookie blueliner, has taken the league by storm with her immense two-way talent and ranks tied for third on the Fleet in points (1-6-7) with Müller (2-5-7) and entered Wednesday’s game leading the team in time on ice (27:17).
“Honestly, it doesn’t always feel like it just because this team is so fun to play with,” Winn said. “Getting the opportunity to play with Megan and everyone on the ice is an honor, and I’m super excited to do it every night. So just kind of go in when coach puts me out there. I don’t really think about it much.”
Sparre said Müller, who snapped a nine-game scoring drought, was the best player on the ice on Wednesday.
“She was outstanding,” Sparre said. “So much of the work that she does on the ice goes unnoticed. She’s hit goal posts, she’s had wonderful opportunities throughout the whole season. The best part about her is when the production doesn’t come with the goals, she can still contribute to the team.”
Boston went into survival mode after taking the lead, enduring what turned out to be an extra-physical matchup that yielded nine penalties. Both penalty killing units remained perfect, as Boston (0-for-6) struggled to take advantage of a 5-on-3 opportunity in the third period.
Its power play woes didn’t matter with Frankel between the pipes. The Northeastern product made eight saves in the final frame and kept Toronto at bay with the goalie pulled in the final minute.
