The Boston Fleet returned from their 10-day holiday break with a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Sceptres on Friday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
The Fleet entered the game riding a two-game winning streak after victories over the New York Sirens and Ottawa Charge. With the loss, Boston fell to 2-3-0 on the season, while Toronto snapped its four-game winless streak to collect just its second win of the 2024-25 campaign. Both of the Sceptres’ wins have been against the Fleet.
Boston took three penalties in the first period, and Toronto capitalized with defender Emma Greco in the box for interference, giving the Sceptres a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Toronto extended its lead to 2-0 in Jessica Kondas’ first goal of the season, before Loren Gabel lit the lamp for Boston on the power play, cutting the Sceptres lead to 2-1. The Fleet finished the night 2-for-4 on the power play.
“I think early on in the game, we needed to capitalize (on the power-play),” Fleet head coach Courtney Kessel said after the game, per team-provided transcript. “Heading into the third period it was nice that we put one in the back of the net, but it’s something you have to maintain. It worked for the first four games a little bit, but we have to maintain that.”
The Fleet lead the PWHL with a 40% success rate on the power play. They have four tallies on the man advantage this season, compared to the inaugural season where they lit the lamp four times in 53 opportunities. They ranked sixth last season at 7.5%.
Aerin Frankel made her fifth straight start between the pipes for Boston and made some huge saves in the third period to keep it a one-goal deficit. Unfortunately for the Fleet, the Sceptres got the all-important insurance goal with 5:40 to play in regulation.
Trailing 3-1 with over three minutes to play, the Fleet gambled and pulled Frankel in favor of the extra attacker. Boston’s move didn’t pay off. Kali Flanigan scored into the empty net to ice the victory for Toronto. Frankel finished with 26 saves on 29 shots. She continues to lead the league with a .927 save percentage.
The Fleet will look to get back in the win column when they faceoff against the Montreal Victoire on Monday. Puck drop from Place Bell is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game on NESN.
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