Boston Fleet Make PWHL History with Fourth Straight Win, Top Standings
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The Boston Fleet are blazing a trail in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), becoming the first team in league history to win their first four games of the season with a decisive 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Frost on Sunday. The Fleet now lead the PWHL standings with 12 points, entering the international break on a high note, while the Frost remain tied for second place with six points after seeing their road winning streak halted at two games.
Fleet Dominate with Offensive Firepower and Power Play Precision
Boston’s offensive prowess was on full display at Agganis Arena, where a crowd of 5,338 witnessed a season-high four-goal performance. The Fleet capitalized on two quick goals late in the first period and a flawless two-for-two on the power play. Shay Maloney broke the ice at 17:03, followed swiftly by captain Megan Keller at 18:17, giving Boston a commanding lead.
Despite a second-period goal from Klára Hymlárová at 3:12, bringing the Frost within one, the Fleet responded with relentless efficiency. Rookie Abby Newhook continued her impressive start to the season, scoring just 49 seconds later on the power play – her third goal in as many games. The goal was assisted by Keller and second overall pick Haley Winn, both contributing to multi-point efforts. Theresa Schafzahl sealed the victory with another power play goal at 3:01 of the third period.
Goaltending Stands Tall for Both Sides
Aerin Frankel was instrumental in the Fleet’s success, turning aside a season-high 26 shots for her league-leading fourth win of the season. Minnesota’s Maddie Rooney also delivered a strong performance, recording a season-high 31 saves, but ultimately suffered her second consecutive start loss.
Coaches Weigh In on Key Matchup
According to a senior official from the Fleet, the game was played at the highest pace the team has seen so far. “We knew going into this game that it was going to take everybody,” the coach stated. “That’s a very organized group over there in Minnesota and you can see why they’ve had a lot of success in this league so far. Credit to our group, I thought we hung in there and felt like we played a pretty tidy game.”
A Fleet defender emphasized the strong team dynamic, stating, “It’s a really fun league to play in and it’s been a lot of fun on this team specifically. Every day that we come to the rink, we have a good time, and we have a really strong family building here.”
From the Minnesota side, an assistant coach acknowledged Boston’s strong start, noting, “They started off obviously at 3-0, coming in here we’re sticking to our game plan because it’s the one thing we can control.” The coach also highlighted areas for improvement, specifically on the power play and penalty kill.
Fleet’s Pressure and Rookie Impact Highlighted
Minnesota’s defense recognized the consistent pressure applied by Boston. “I felt like their pressure all over the ice, the first pressure – F1 – and the secondary pressure was really good,” a Frost defender observed. “Obviously, they did that last year too, it just felt really consistent today.”
The impact of Boston’s rookies was also significant. Abby Newhook leads all PWHL rookies with three goals, while Haley Winn recorded her first two PWHL assists and points in her fourth career game.
Looking Ahead
Boston will resume play on Wednesday, December 17, with an away game against New York at 7 p.m. ET. Minnesota will host Boston on Friday, December 19, at 8 p.m. ET at Grand Casino Arena. .
Notable Stats & Achievements
- Historic Win Streak: Boston has won four straight games in regulation for the first time in team history.
- Keller’s Leadership: Megan Keller is tied for the PWHL lead in scoring among defenders with four points (2G, 2A).
- Newhook’s Hot Streak: Abby Newhook has scored in three consecutive games, including her first power play goal.
- Rookie Contributions: Haley Winn and several other rookies are making significant contributions to their teams.
- Frankel’s Dominance: Aerin Frankel remains undefeated, with a league-leading four wins.
