NWHL

The Metropolitan Riveters made their second trip to the State of Hockey for a two-game matchup with the Minnesota Whitecaps. This was the only NWHL action we saw this weekend but it provided plenty of entertainment with close scores and the season’s first shootout.

Saturday, Dec. 14

Metropolitan Riveters beat Minnesota Whitecaps; 3-2 (SO)

Riveters: Kate Leary (Madison Packer, Cailey Hutchison), Kate Leary (Colleen Murphy, Cailey Hutchison), Tatiana Shatalova (SO)
Whitecaps: Audra Richards (Allie Thunstrom, Chelsey Brodt Rosenthal), Allie Thunstrom (Sydney Baldwin, Winny Brodt Brown)

The Riveters scored first, with Kate Leary getting one passed Whitecaps goalie Amanda Leveille which earned her the second star of the game. Former Riveter Audra Richards answered back the following period to tie the game. Kate Leary took matters into her own hands once again and scored 10 minutes later to take the lead. Allie Thunstrom tied it up late in the third to push the game to overtime.

After five minutes, the game was still tied and they prepared for a shootout. Riveter rookie Tatiana Shatalova scored first and neither team allowed a goal after that and the Riveters took the win. Cailey Hutchison, Kate Leary, and Allie Thunstrom all had multi-point games.

Sunday, Dec. 15

Minnesota Whitecaps beat Metropolitan Riveters; 5-2

Riveters: Madison Packer (Kate Leary, Kendall Cornine), Kate Leary (Tatiana Shatalova)
Whitecaps: Stephanie Anderson (Nina Rodgers, Lauren Barnes), Nicole Schammel (Amanda Boulier, Lisa Martinson), Audra Richards (Haylea Schmid, Winny Brodt Brown), Audra Richards (Allie Thunstrom), Sydney Baldwin (Audra Richards)

Minnesota got ahead early, scoring all five of their goals in the first half of the game. Audra Richards tallies three points rounding out her weekend against her former team with four points.

The Riveters made a slight run at a comeback toward the end of the game but ultimately did not have enough time. Madison Packer scored a goal inching closer to the all-time goals record once more, and Tatiana Shatalova had a multi-point weekend finally getting some good opportunities with the puck.

NWHL Standings as of 12/16

Rivalry Series

In the first game of the second annual Rivalry Series between USA and Canada, tensions were high as they always are, following a Canada sweep last month in their joint training camp exhibition games. In front of an energized crowd in Hartford, CT at the XL Center, these two teams did not disappoint.

Saturday, Dec. 14

USA beat Canada; 4-1

USA: Megan Keller (Annie Pankowski, Emily Matheson), Amanda Kessel (Kelly Pannek, Alex Carpenter), Abby Roque (Britta Curl, Lee Stecklein), Alex Carpenter (Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek)
Canada: Victoria Bach (Jaime Bourbonnais, Mélodie Daoust)

First #USWNT goal ✅

Congrats, @abby_roque! #RivalrySeries pic.twitter.com/UsgIAVG85E

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 15, 2019

Victoria Bach got on the board for Canada first, following the trends of these teams’ previous few meetups however it was only two minutes later when Megan Keller put one in to tie the game. Ultimately, that was the last Canada would see of a lead. USA tacked on goals from Kessel, Roque, and Carpenter before the final buzzer.

What is usually a physical matchup did not stray from the norm as there were 11 penalties total, one even coming at 19:41 in the third from none other than USA defender, Megan Keller.

These two teams will face off again Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. EST for the second of five Rivalry Series meetings.