Boston Fleet Dominates Vancouver Goldeneyes in Edmonton Showdown
The Boston Fleet concluded the Professional Women's Hockey League's 16-game Takeover Tour with a decisive 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Goldeneyes in Edmonton on Tuesday. This win extends Boston's impressive streak to five consecutive victories, positioning them just one point behind the league-leading Montreal Victoire in the standings.
Key Performances Drive Boston's Success
Jessie Eldridge led the offensive charge for Boston with two goals, while captain Megan Keller, Susanna Tapani, and Jamie Lee Rattray each contributed a goal to secure the win. Goaltender Aerin Frankel delivered a stellar performance, stopping 28 of 29 shots to earn her 17th victory of the season, tying her for the league lead with Montreal's Renee Desbiens.
Boston's special teams played a crucial role in the game. Keller scored a short-handed goal, and Eldridge added a power-play goal for her second of the contest, helping Boston build a commanding 3-0 lead by the second period. The Fleet's penalty kill, which ranks first in the PWHL with an 88 percent efficiency rate, successfully neutralized all five of Vancouver's power-play opportunities.
Vancouver's Struggles Continue
Vancouver, with a record of 7-1-4-14, suffered its third consecutive loss. Defender Sophie Jaques managed to score the Goldeneyes' lone goal early in the third period, but it was not enough to overcome Boston's dominance. Starting goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer allowed five goals on 23 shots over two periods before being replaced by Kristen Campbell, who stopped all six shots she faced in the third.
The Goldeneyes' road record dropped to 3-1-1-10, highlighting ongoing challenges away from home. In contrast, Boston improved its league-best road record to 7-4-1-2 with this victory.
Edmonton as a Potential Expansion Hub
This game marked the third time the PWHL has hosted a neutral-site matchup in Edmonton, fueling speculation that the city could be a candidate for league expansion in the upcoming season. Attendance figures have varied, with the first Takeover game last season drawing 17,518 fans to Rogers Place, followed by 10,264 on December 27 and an announced crowd of 10,794 for Tuesday's contest.
Vancouver's next challenge will be a home game against Seattle next Tuesday, as they aim to rebound from this loss and improve their standing in the league. The Boston Fleet, already playoff-bound along with Montreal and the Minnesota Frost, have four games remaining in the regular season to solidify their position.
