Hensley Backstops Beauts to 4-0 Win
Published on December 30, 2018 under Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
Buffalo Beauts News Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Going into Sunday afternoon's matchup, the Buffalo Beauts had lost all three of their previous games against the Minnesota Whitecaps this season, including a 2-1 heartbreaker at KeyBank Center on Saturday night. The fourth time proved to be charm for the Beauts as they skated to a 4-0 win over the first-place Whitecaps at Harborcenter.
Despite being outshot 15-5 in the first period, the Beauts went into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead. Minnesota came out fast in the first 10 minutes and got a number of good scoring chances, but Nicole Hensley, who made her home debut in goal for Buffalo, kept the Whitecaps off the board with a number of big saves in the first period.
"[Hensley] played amazing," Beauts defenseman Emily Pfalzer said following the win. "It all started with her back there. We started off a little slow and she kept us in it and then even made an unbelievable save in the second period. She had a great game."
Along with Hensley standing tall in goal, the Beauts' penalty kill seemed to give them a bit of a boost midway through the first period as well. Buffalo kept the puck in Minnesota's end for roughly the last 45 seconds of a penalty kill midway through the period and managed to get a few good scoring chances while pressuring the Whitecaps' power-play unit.
Maddie Elia broke the scoreless tie with 3:02 left in the first period. Pfalzer put a shot toward the Whitecaps goal and Elia was able to deflect the puck past Minnesota goalie Amanda Leveille to give the Beauts the 1-0 lead.
The Beauts' play improved in the second period and it resulted in more goals. Buffalo extended their lead 3:15 into the second period on a goal from Pfalzer. The play started with a strong move to the net by Hayley Scamurra and after second and third efforts from Elia and Dani Cameranesi, Pfalzer found the puck and put it home to double Buffalo's lead.
The Beauts top line of Elia, Scamurra and Cameranesi would strike again later in the period. Following a cross-checking penalty to Minnesota's Chelsey Brodt Rosenthal, Scamurra backhanded home a power-play goal to extend the lead to 3-0. Elia picked up the lone assist on the goal, her second of the afternoon.
Despite taking a three-goal lead into the final frame, the Beauts continued their aggressive play in the third period to secure the win. Hensley continued to be unbeatable in the third period, stopping 10 shots in the final 20 minutes and 33 total on the afternoon to put a lid on her first home victory and second shutout this season.
"We've played three really close games with Minnesota so far this year and the bounces really haven't gone our way," Hensley said. "So coming into this game, I knew we had great team in front of us and I had to try to make whatever saves I can and a few I'm not supposed to, and our team would do the rest."
Elia rounded out the scoring by ripping a one-timer past Leveille on the power play with 7:25 left in the game. The Lewiston, New York native finished the afternoon with four points (2+2) and is currently the leading goal-scorer in the NWHL.
Sunday's victory was also the first for Cody McCormick as the head coach of the Beauts. McCormick took over the head coaching duties earlier this month and is happy to see positive results so quickly.
"I've thrown a lot at them," McCormick said. "They've had to absorb a lot system-wise and maybe that was contributing. But today I thought everything went well. I thought every line was going and they inspired the next line to play the way we wanted them to. It was great to see as a coaching staff."
With the victory, the Beauts improved to 5-4-0 on the year. Their next game will take place on Saturday, Jan. 5 when they host the Boston Pride at Harborcenter at 1:30 p.m.
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from December 30, 2018
- Skarupa's Overtime Goal Gives Pride Win over Whale in Thriller - Boston Pride
- Hensley Backstops Beauts to 4-0 Win - Buffalo Beauts
- Elia's Four Points Power Beauts to Decisive Victory over Whitecaps - Buffalo Beauts
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