By Michael Heilman
The road to the Isobel Cup playoffs began Friday night as the Connecticut Whale took on Isobel Cup runner up Buffalo Beauts at the Northtown Center.
Buffalo jumped to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Corinne Buie with assists from Mikyla Grant-Mentis and Taylor Accursi.
WATCH: Corinne "Big Game" Buie BURIES the first goal of the #2020NWHLPlayoffs and gets the Northtown Center rocking. The @BuffaloBeauts are up 1-0 on @Twitch! #NWHLonTwitch 📺: https://t.co/EHkD9gflXv pic.twitter.com/WHpcnnGpwZ — NWHL (@NWHL) March 7, 2020
Connecticut would tie the game up 1-1 on a goal by Hanna Beattie with 4:58 left in the first period.
WATCH: ⏪ Here's @hbeattie13's goal for the @CTWhale_NWHL that tied the game in the first period! It's 2-1 Whale over the @BuffaloBeauts at the first intermission. Join our free live stream on @Twitch before the second period begins! 📺: https://t.co/EHkD9gflXv pic.twitter.com/gq580qHqOp — NWHL (@NWHL) March 7, 2020
The Whale took a 2-1 lead as Katelynn Russ scored with under a minute left in the first period. The Whale led 2-1 at the end of the first period.
WATCH: @CTWhale_NWHL newcomer Katelynn Russ scores the go-ahead goal in the final minute of the first period to give her team a 2-1 lead! Join us on @Twitch before the start of the second period. PLAYOFF HOCKEY! #NWHLonTwitch 📺: https://t.co/EHkD9gflXv pic.twitter.com/CN4Wx9R1v7 — NWHL (@NWHL) March 7, 2020
Buffalo tied the game 2-2 on a goal from Mikyla Grant-Mentis, with an assist from Taylor Accursi with 15:43 left in the second period.
WATCH: MIKYLA GRANT-MENTIS STRIKES AGAIN! We have a tie game! Grant-Mentis snipes this puck home past Wolejko for her second point of the game for the @BuffaloBeauts in her first NWHL playoff game. We're live on @Twitch! #2020NWHLPlayoffs 📺: https://t.co/EHkD9gflXv pic.twitter.com/wW1IpqAHPP — NWHL (@NWHL) March 7, 2020
After a body-checking call against Beauts defenseman Megan Delay. Connecticut regained the lead 3-2 on a power-play goal from Katelynn Russ, with assists from Janine Weber and Emma Vlasic with 11:43 left in the second period.
WATCH: Janine Weber sets up Katelynn Russ for her second goal of the game! The @CTWhale_NWHL are ahead 3-2! What 👏 a 👏 pass 👏. #2020NWHLPlayoffs #NWHLonTwitch 📺: https://t.co/EHkD9gflXv pic.twitter.com/nMJlmbMtoH — NWHL (@NWHL) March 7, 2020
Connecticut extended their lead 4-2 as Hanna Beattie scored her second goal of the game with an assist from Emma Vlasic with 2:24 left in the second period. Connecticut led 4-2 as the second period ended.
WATCH: @hbeattie13 STRIKES AGAIN! She puts the @CTWhale_NWHL up 4-2 with her second goal of the game! We're now at the second intermission, be sure to join our live @Twitch stream before the third period begins! #NWHLonTwitch #2020NWHLPlayoffs 📺: https://t.co/EHkD9gflXv pic.twitter.com/z7VzEAjDck — NWHL (@NWHL) March 7, 2020
Buffalo made it a one-goal game as Megan Delay scored with assists from Kristin Lewicki, and Marie-Jo Pelletier for a 4-3 Whale’s lead with 3:57 left in the third period.
WATCH: We have a one-goal game with TWO minutes left in regulation! Meg Delay snipes it home for the @BuffaloBeauts!!! Join us now on @Twitch! #2020NWHLPlayoffs #NWHLonTwitch 📺: https://t.co/EHkD9gflXv pic.twitter.com/UmOpqsxUIq — NWHL (@NWHL) March 7, 2020
Connecticut put the game away as Allie Lacombe scored with an assist from Emma Vlasic with 21.6 seconds left in the third period to make a 5-3 Whale’s lead. Connecticut defeated the Buffalo Beauts 5-3.
WATCH: @allielac scores in the final minute to seal the deal for the @CTWhale_NWHL! The Whale advance to the Isobel Cup Semifinal!! #2020NWHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/GlayLVnTGr — NWHL (@NWHL) March 7, 2020
The three stars of the game were Beauts forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis with one goal and one assist, Whale forward Katelynn Russ with two goals, and Whale forward Hanna Beattie with two goals. Connecticut will now move on to the Isobel Cup semi-finals against the Boston Pride at the Warrior Ice Arena Sunday at 2:30 pm.
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