BEAUTS HEAD BACK HOME TO HOST WHALE

After an extended six-game road trip, Buffalo is finally back home and ready for its second series against the Connecticut Whale.

The Beauts are heading into this weekend on a hot streak, picking up wins in three of their last four games. Though they lost their most recent game to Montreal, the Beauts put together a three-game winning streak prior to that defeat, and are looking to get back in the win column this weekend.

The last time these two teams faced off, Connecticut skated away with a pair of wins. The Whale outscored the Beauts 10-3 during those games, and if Buffalo wants to keep their hot streak alive, they’ll have to keep pace with Connecticut’s top scorers.

Luckily for Buffalo, forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis has been unstoppable lately. Over her last four games, Grant-Mentis has recorded six points, posting a whopping five goals and an assist over that span. It might have taken the second-year forward a while to find her scoring touch again, but now that it’s back, it doesn’t look like it’s going away any time soon.

Connecticut comes into the weekend on a two-game winning streak, picking up a 6-3 victory over Metropolitan and a 6-4 win over Toronto. The Whale have been getting their scoring from all over lately, though Justine Reyes notched a hat trick in Connecticut’s most recent win and Taylor Girard is riding a three-game scoring streak and has scored at least once in six of her last seven games.

Buffalo goaltender Samantha Ridgewell seems to have taken command of the crease, getting the last three straight starts. However, she was also in net for the Beauts most recent loss, so it wouldn’t be unexpected to see Lovisa Berndtsson back in net for at least one game this weekend.

Connecticut goaltenders Abbie Ives and Meeri Räisänen have been splitting time in net this season, and either of them could suit up at any point this weekend. Each have one of the Whale’s last two wins.

The Beauts will have to keep an eye on Connecticut’s league-leading power play; the Whale convert on 25.4 percent of their PP chances. They’ve also scored the most shorthanded goals in the PHF, notching seven goals while down a player.

The Whale and Beauts will face off on Saturday night at 7 p.m. EST and again on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. EST. Saturday’s game is the team’s Alumni Night, and Sunday is Good Neighbors Day, presented by Good Neighbors Credit Union. Tickets for both games can be purchased at https://beauts.goigniter.com/, and can also be streamed on ESPN+.

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.

Contact: For media information, please contact Nate Oliver: noliver@beautshockey.com.