Berndtsson, Beauts pick up point in OT loss

Beauts goalie Lovisa Berndtsson played lights out for the Beauts and helped Buffalo secure a point in a close 2-1 OT loss to Boston.

Berndtsson made two point-blank stops in the final minute of regulation to force OT and finished the game with 33 saves and a .943 save percentage. Boston’s Corinne Schroeder got the start again for the home team, collecting 29 saves in the win.

Allie Thunstrom scored a shorthanded goal to get the scoring started on Sunday, streaking down the right side of the ice and sending the puck top shelf to make it 1-0 Boston 3:14 into the first period.

From there, the Beauts defense was airtight, holding Boston scoreless for the next 57 minutes while the Buffalo hunted for the equalizer. They found it midway through the third period on the power play, with Boston’s McKenna Brand in the box for slashing. With the PP winding down, Whitney Dove let loose a bomb from the blue line. Schroeder made the initial stop, but Anjelica Diffendal whacked away at the rebound until Courtney Maud swooped in and picked up the puck, taking it to the far side and putting it into an empty net to tie things up.

Berndtsson stood on her head in the last few minutes of the game to keep the score even, making two colossal saves in the final minute to send the game to extra time. Despite some good looks, it was Boston who scored the winning goal on another Thunstrom breakaway 1:40 into OT.

The Beauts have a quick turnaround before their next contest - they’ll head to Connecticut for a mid-week series against the Connecticut Whale, making up a series that was postponed in late November due to weather. The first game is on Tuesday at 7 p.m. EST and they’ll play again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. EST.

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.