#KnightWatch ends, Pride’s winning streak doesn’t in 3-0 victory

The Boston Pride continue to be the most consistent team in the NWHL, taking a 3-0 victory over Connecticut this week. In the win, the Pride addressed nearly all of their few holes, and come out of the week remaining undefeated with a 5-0 record.

• After having the worst power play in the league, the Pride scored on the advantage twice against the Whale. Jordan Smelker scored to open the game in the first period on a Blake Bolden shot, and they tallied a second power play goal from Meghan Duggan. Having Hillary Knight back certainly made a difference, but she wasn’t on the ice for either of the goals.
• For just the second time this season, the Pride scored a goal in the first period. Bolden gave the Pride the lead, and Boston didn’t score a goal in the second frame for the first time all season. The Pride have scored 12 of their goals this season in the middle period.
• Brittany Ott earned her first shutout of the season, and she did earn it. The duo of Kelli Stack and Haley Skarupa challenged the Pride goalie, especially in the third period, and she came up with 26 saves for her first goose egg of the year.
• The roles around the rest of the team don’t seem to have changed much with Knight back in the mix. Alex Carpenter saw her shifts go down a bit, but especially in the second period, was still involved in the offense. Smelker and Brianna Decker were Knight’s linemates, and the top line worked as the team’s power play unit as well. Amanda Pelkey skated with Duggan and Carpenter.
• Speaking of Knight, she got on the board in her first game and seems to have recovered from any injury she was dealing with. If the Four Nations Cup didn’t prove that with her two-goal effort in the final game, the contest against the Whale did. Knight was able to contribute in all three zones, using her speed and stick work to open up the ice for Decker, and she also played at times on the blue line, allowing her defenders to pinch up in offensive chances./

The Pride have now played, and defeated, each team in the league. Boston has yet to play against New York or Connecticut without home-ice advantage, but thus far they’ve handled each challenge to come their way.