LOWELL — A magical ride ended just short of a Hollywood ending.
The fans were there to celebrate the first Professional Women’s Hockey League championship. But they left disappointed.
Liz Schepers’ first Tsongas Center goal proved to be a historic one.
The Minnesota center made hockey history on Wednesday night, scoring the game-winning goal in a 3-0 win over Boston in Game 5 of the PWHL Finals.
Minnesota becomes the first PWHL team to win the Walter Cup, taking the best-of-five series in front of a standing-room-only sellout crowd of 6,309.
“Obviously, it’s a tough way to lose,” said Boston team captain Hilary Knight. “Especially a Game 5 at home in front of these amazing fans. We just came from the room and that’s all we were doing, reflecting on how proud of our group we are. How we continue to persevere here regardless of any odds that were thrown in our direction. How we fought.”
“This year was a historic year,” she added. “It was tough, it was something no player is ever use to. We built it and are extremely ecstatic about where it is right now in year one. Where our group is and how we continue to battle and fight for one another.”
Locked in a scoreless tie, Schepers ignited the Minnesota attack, scoring the goal-ahead goal just 6:14 into the second period.
A team known for late-game heroics, Boston found itself in familiar territory, trailing 1-0 and outshot 25-14 heading into the third period. But Minnesota managed to kill any thoughts of a dramatic comeback, with Michela Cava icing the game with an insurance marker at 8:08 of the third period.
Boston goalie Aerin Frankel, who had been rock solid all throughout the playoffs, made 41 saves. Minnesota netminder Nicole Hensley made 17 stops en route to the shutout win.
Minnesota’s Taylor Heise was named the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP, scoring five goals, three assists and eight points in the playoffs.
Frankel’s stellar play helped carry the team all season long.
“She stood on her head all year,” said Knight. “She showed up every single day and so we couldn’t be more grateful and proud of her performance throughout the year. Hopefully we can help her out a little bit more up front, to relieve some of that pressure. But she’s the best goalie in the league, no doubt about it.”
“She’s been our backbone,” said Boston assistant captain Jamie Lee Rattray. “She’s literally the best goalie in the world right now. She helped us through the first couple rounds. Without her I don’t think we get to where we are.”
Boston carried the play for much of the first period. Loren Gabel got the offense going, testing Hensley from in close in the opening moments. Meanwhile, Boston’s top line of Alina Müller, Susanna Tapani and Theresa Schafzahl was buzzing. The trio, who accounted for three of the team’s six goals in the series heading into Game 5, offered several good looks in the first period.
All three were pivotal factors throughout the finals. Müller scored in back-to-back games. Tapani scored in Game 1, leading the team with three playoff tallies. Schafzahl set-up Müller’s Game 4 double OT winner.
Minnesota outshot Boston 9-7 at the first intermission, with their top line of Kendall Coyne Schofield, Taylor Heise and Michela Cava also creating havoc.
Minnesota continued to show plenty of push back in the second period, applying ample pressure on Frankel. The ex-Northeastern netminder stood tall, however, denying drives by Natalie Buchbinder and defenseman Lee Stecklein.
Schepers managed to silence the sellout crowd in the second period, scoring the goal-ahead goal 6:14 into the second period. Sydney Brodt made the play happen, originally fanning on her initial shot on Frankel, before dishing cross-ice pass to Schepers camped in the left slot for the tap-in goal. Mellissa Channell picked up the other assist.
Minnesota continued to chip away on Frankel, outshooting Boston by a sizable 16-7 margin in the second period, and 25-14 total.
“I thought we came out to an extra tentative start,” said coach Courtney Kessel. “We had some opportunities to put the puck in the back of the net and we didn’t. To be honest I think we just ran out of steam.”
Boston just couldn’t find its offensive mojo this time around. Minnesota managed to kill any thoughts of a dramatic comeback. Cava potted an insurance marker at 8:08, increasing Minnesota’s lead to 2-0. Wheeling around Frankel’s net, the winger rifled a backhander that deflected off the goaltender and in the net. Heise and Channell picked up the assists.
Boston was held at arms length the rest of the way, pulling the goalie with just under five minutes to play, but to no avail, as Minnesota pulled out the victory.
Coyne Schofield sealed the deal for Minnesota, netting the empty-net goal from Cava with 2:06 remaining.
