Beauts Snap Skid, Earn Wild Shootout Win over Riveters
February 15, 2020 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
Buffalo Beauts News Release
It wasn't easy or pretty but the Buffalo Beauts battled their tails off on Saturday night and came away with a 6-5 shootout win over the Metropolitan Riveters, their first win since Nov. 30.
Asked if this was one of the wildest NWHL games of the year, Buffalo All-Star Taylor Accursi, said, "Yes, definitely."
The Beauts jumped out to early leads of 1-0, 2-0, and 3-1 before the Riveters rallied to grab a 4-3 lead midway through the game. But Buffalo responded with two late second period goals and carried a 5-4 led into the final 20 minutes of regulation. Adding to the drama and mayhem, with 16 seconds left in the second period, Sara Bustad of the Beauts and Madison Packer of the Riveters were ejected from the game after an on-ice tussle.
The game was tied again early in the final period by the Rivs and stayed that way until the tie-breaking shootout that saw two Buffalo shooters seal the deal in four thrilling rounds.
CaptainÃÂ Corinne BuieÃÂ andÃÂ Kandice SheriffÃÂ scored in the opening period for the Beauts, andÃÂ Kim Brown, Iveta Klimasova,ÃÂ and Accursi all potted goals in the second period.
"It's a huge monkey off my back," said Sheriff, who also picked up an assist in the win. "To get that goal, and then an assist, it feels good."
For the home team,ÃÂ Leila Kilduff, Kiira Dosdall-Arena, Kelly Nash, Kate Leary,ÃÂ and Brooke AveryÃÂ scored goals.
In the shootout, it was Accursi who struck first to matchÃÂ Kate Leary's tally for the Rivs before Ana OrzechowskiÃÂ scored the deciding goal.
"A rollercoaster of emotions," said Accursi. "It's about being mentally tough. Every shift you just bear down and go out there and do what you're really good at."
In the shootout Accursi didn't have her special stick - she gave it to a fan before the game - but as she said with a grin, "I have a new special stick." And what about the move she pulled off? "All I wanted to do was read what their goalie was giving me, and with the two prior shooters, she was really biting on the shot. So I faked a shot, pulled it to the right, and I went five-hole. It worked out for me."
And it worked out for the Beauts, who snapped a long losing skid.
The Riveters and Beauts will play again tomorrow at ProSkate at 4:30 p.m. ET. Tickets for that game are available at riveters.nwhl.zone/tickets and fans can watch the action streaming live and free on the NWHL on Twitch.
Dan's 3 Stars of the Game
1) Taylor Accursi (BUF): goal (16), shootout goal
2) Kandice Sheriff (BUF): goal (1), assist (1)
3) Kelly Nash (MET): goal (1), assist (4)
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Premier Hockey Federation Stories from February 15, 2020
- Beauts Snap Skid, Earn Wild Shootout Win over Riveters - Buffalo Beauts
- Pride Top Whale 4-1 Before Third Straight Sellout Crowd - Boston Pride
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