By Michael Heilman
The Metropolitan Riveters returned to action Saturday night at the Tria Rink against a well-rested Minnesota Whitecaps, who have not played a game since November 24th. The Riveters were coming off a 3-2 win last week against the Connecticut Whale and were looking to extend their winning streak to two games.
The Riveters had a big task to handle as soon as the puck dropped to start the first period. The Whitecaps were pushing the Riveters around early until Whitecaps defenseman Winny Brodt Brown was called for cross-checking. The Riveters were able to penetrate the Whitecaps defense to score the first goal of the game seven minutes and nineteen seconds into the first period from Kate Leary with assists from Madison Packer and Cailey Hutchison to put the Riveters up 1-0. The Riveters held their own for the rest of the period and maintained a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.
The Riveters did not do themselves any favors early in the second period as Cailey Hutchison was called for tripping. The Whitecaps took advantage of the power play to tie the game 1-1 eight minutes and thirty-two seconds in the second period on a power-play goal by Audra Richards with Allie Thunstrom and Chelsey Brodt Rosenthal assisting Richards goal. The Whitecaps were dominating the shots on goal total, but Riveters goalie Sam Walther was doing a good job holding the Whitecaps off from doing more damage.
The Riveters would go on another power play late in the second period as Whitecaps defenseman Sydney Baldwin was called for body-checking. The Riveters would regain the lead 2-1 on a power-play goal by Kate Leary, her second of the game, with assists from Colleen Murphy and Cailey Hutchison. The Riveters led 2-1 at the end of the second period.
The Riveters were doing all they could do to hold off a charging Whitecaps offense, but it was too much as Allie Thunstrom tied the game 2-2 for the Whitecaps fourteen minutes and forty-five seconds in the third period. Both of these teams fought hard to the end of the third period and remained tied 2-2 heading to overtime.
Neither team could finish the game off in overtime and had to settle for a shootout. It was Riveters forward Tatiana Shatalova, who scored the only goal in a shootout to help the Metropolitan Riveters secure a massive win over the Minnesota Whitecaps 3-2.
The Whitecaps dominated the shots on goal total with forty-two to the Riveters twenty-five. The Riveters were two for two on the power play while the Whitecaps went one for three. Riveters goalie Sam Walther made forty of forty-two saves allowing two goals while Whitecaps goalie Amanda Leveille made twenty-three of twenty-five saves.
The three stars of the game were Whitecaps forward Allie Thunstrom with one goal and one assist, Riveters forward Kate Leary with two goals, and Riveters goalie Sam Walther with forty saves. These two teams will go at it again tomorrow at 1 pm from the Tria Rink.
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