Riveters Take on the Whale in the Second Isobel Cup Semifinal Matchup
Published on March 15, 2018 under Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release
The Metropolitan Riveters and Connecticut Whale will meet for the first time ever in the playoffs on Sunday in Newark, New Jersey with a trip to the Isobel Cup Final the following weekend on the line. Over the course of the 2017-18 NWHL season, the Riveters won their five matchups with the Whale by a combined score of 22-6.
The Rivs were powered by 12 different goal scorers over the five games and 15 different players recorded at least one point; the Whale had eight players record at least a point over the season series. In goal, Katie Fitzgerald went 4-0-0 surrendering only four goals and Kimberly Sass won the other start in a 3-2 overtime win. The Riveters enter the single-elimination game having defeated Connecticut in eight consecutive games dating back to last season.
Alexa the Great: After ten points during her rookie season, Alexa Gruschow led the NWHL in scoring this season with 22 points (9g-13a) and is the favorite to win MVP. She also led the league in face-offs won (195), shorthanded goals (2), game-winning goals (4). Over the five games, this season against the Whale this season Gruschow had nine points (2g-7a) including a game-winner on December 3; five of her points against Connecticut came via the power play.
Red-Hot Packer: Third-year Riveter Madison Packer returned from injury after missing the first four games this season and had perhaps her best season as a pro. Over 12 games she only failed to register a point twice and won the goal-scoring title with a hat-trick in the league's final regular season game. Against the Whale, Packer had four multiple-point outings: three games with two assists, one with two goals - including the GWG in overtime on January 27.
Kelly the Killer (Whale): Connecticut's Kelly Babstock has terrorized the Riveters over her career with 19 points (13g-6a) over 15 career games. The third-year NWHLer has four career playoff goals in four career playoff games with the Whale and led all players this season with 71 shots on goal.
X-Factor: Both teams added new players towards the end of the season with the Riveters signing Hillary Crowe (Harvard) and the Whale inking Sam Donovan (Brown). Can either one be this season's version of Hayley Scamurra? She joined the Beauts in the same situation last season and chipped in four points (1g-3a) in Buffalo's two playoff games?
You can witness history in the making on Sunday, March 18 at RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey by buying tickets here: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/Isobel-Cup-Semi-Final-TBD-vs-Metropolitan-Riveters/359307?afflky=NewYorkRiveters
If you can't make the game you can watch live online for free through Twitter here: NWHL.twitter.com
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from March 15, 2018
- Riveters Take on the Whale in the Second Isobel Cup Semifinal Matchup - PHF
- Greco, Scamurra and the Beauts Primed for First Playoff Game Before "The Best Fans in the League" - Buffalo Beauts
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