BEAUTS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AGAINST WHITECAPS

Special teams played a large part in Sunday’s game between the Beauts and the Whitecaps, and despite multiple comeback efforts from the home team, Buffalo dropped its second contest against Minnesota in a 5-3 loss.

Minnesota goaltender Amanda Leveille made 25 saves for the visitors. Beauts goalie Tera Hofmann stopped 32 stops in the loss.

After the Beauts struck first in Saturday’s contest, the Whitecaps responded with a fast start on Sunday. Fleming sent the puck up the ice to Stephanie Anderson, who dished it over to Madsen to make it 1-0 Minnesota just over five minutes into the first period.

The ‘Caps doubled their lead a few minutes later on a power play. Sydney Brodt tipped a shot from Denisa Křížová past Hofmann to make it 2-0.

Buffalo responded almost immediately, scoring 13 seconds later. Madi Nichols intercepted a pass from Minnesota and passed it down to Jenna Suokko, who tipped to a waiting Grace Kleinbach at the side of the net, who tipped it easily past Leveille.

Sidney Morin scored on a sharp-angle shot with just under nine minutes to go to restore Minnesota’s two-goal lead in the first, and the ‘Caps went into the first period up 3-1.

The second period was quieter for the first 15 minutes, but it heated up in the final five. With Patti Marshall in the box for high-sticking, Jonna Albers scored a short-handed goal to give the Whitecaps a 4-1 lead with 3:11 left in the second. Undeterred, the Beauts responded on the ensuing power play with Claudia Kepler notching her fourth goal of the season to make it 4-2.

Fleming scored with 31 seconds left in the second period after a chaotic sequence in front of the net.

Buffalo scored early in the final period on the power play to make it 5-3. Dominique Kremer let loose a shot from the blue line that Courtney Maud tipped past Leveille 57 seconds into the frame. Despite their efforts, Buffalo couldn’t pull any closer, and Minnesota skated away with the win.

The Beauts will travel to Boston next weekend for a series against the Pride. Their first game is on January 14 at 7 p.m. EST, and the following game will drop the puck at 2 p.m. EST on Sunday.

About the Buffalo Beauts

The Buffalo Beauts are a professional women's ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York and competing in the Premier Hockey Federation (formerly the National Women’s Hockey League). The Beauts are one of the Founding Four teams that stepped on the ice in 2015 and the 2017 Isobel Cup Champions. The team is owned and operated by NLTT Hockey Ventures. Visit beauts.nwhl.zone to learn more.

About the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)

The PHF is the leading home of professional women’s hockey in North America. Established in 2015 as the National Women’s Hockey League, the NWHL rebranded to become the PHF in 2021 and maintains the mission to provide strong role models and fuel the continued growth of the sport. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, Montreal Force and the Toronto Six who all compete annually for the Isobel Cup.