Fueled by Aerin Frankel’s second shutout in three games, the Boston Fleet continued their red-hot start, improving to 3-0 to open the season for the first time in franchise history.
Frankel stopped 21 shots that came her way, including 13 in the final frame to help backstop her team to a 2-0 victory Wednesday over the Vancouver Goldeneyes at Agganis Arena.
“I’m just really excited for our team’s success,” Frankel told reporters following the win. “Being 3-0 is incredible and obviously, it’s a really long season, but if you like how you’re playing at the beginning of the year, it’s a pretty good indication of what this group is capable of.”
The franchise netminder has allowed just one goal in three contests, turning aside 70 of 71 shots.
“It’s like a Christmas present that came early,” first-year head coach Kris Sparre said of Frankel. “She’s awesome. I’ve said it before in pretty much every press conference so far but, when you have goaltending that is that solid, it gives your team confidence in any situation whether you’re having a great first period, whether you’re down in a game; it keeps the belief strong that we have a wall behind us keeping pucks out of the net. She works hard at her craft and deserves everything that she gets coming her way.”
Here are more notes from Boston’s shutout win:
— Jill Saulnier scored her first goal of the season with an unassisted insurance goal in the third period.
The Halifax native broke the puck out of the Fleet’s zone, turned on her speed in a race toward the Vancouver net. She snapped a quick wrist shot under Emerance Maschmeyer’s glove to give the Fleet a two-goal lead.
— Rookie forward Abby Newhook lit the lamp for the second time in as many games to open the scoring at 5:02 of the first period.
— Boston went 0-for-2 on the power play, but skated a penalty-free game for the first time this season. The Fleet outshot the Goldeneyes 31-21 in the contest and won 71.4% at the dot.
— The Fleet return to Boston on Sunday to host the two-time Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost. Puck drop from Agganis Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on NESN and the league’s YouTube channel.
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