As the saying goes, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Being both at the same time is best of all, as PWHL Boston proved Sunday in Game 1 of the Walter Cup finals.
Boston used tenacity, outstanding goaltending and a fortunate bounce to edge PWHL Minnesota 4-3 to open the league’s championship series. Boston scored three goals in a back-and-forth second period to wrangle the lead away from Minnesota, then helped goalie Aerin Frankel shut the door on any hopes of a Minnesota rally before 4,508 fans at Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass.
Only 15 seconds after Taylor Heise pulled Minnesota even with her second goal of the game, Boston defender Jess Healey got that blessed bounce for the game-winner. Healey’s shot from the left boards, just inside the blue line, struck the stick of Minnesota’s Sophia Kunin and zipped past goaltender Maddie Rooney.
Minnesota outshot Boston 33-22 and got three goals from its top line. But Frankel’s unflappability, plus that well-timed bit of luck, gave Boston a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The victory was Boston’s sixth in a row. Game 2 is Tuesday at Tsongas Center.
“I just threw it on net, and I think I got a little lucky,” Healey said of her winning goal, scored at 17 minutes, 25 seconds of the second period. “But I guess that doesn’t matter, as long as it’s in the net.”
Minnesota coach Ken Klee praised his team for another strong game. Only two days after beating Toronto 4-1 on the road, finishing off a tough, five-game semifinal series, Minnesota played with speed and spirit.
Heise finished with two goals and an assist, giving the former Gophers standout from Lake City four goals in her past two games. The center combined with linemates Kendall Coyne Schofield and Michela Cava for all three Minnesota goals and 12 shots.