Minnesota evens series against Boston with 3-0 shutout – Lets Play Hockey

In February, Minnesota and Boston traded players. In the first two games of the PWHL Finals, the two teams have traded wins with the players in the league’s first trade making a difference for each team.

Minnesota avenged a game one loss to Boston to even the PWHL Finals at a game apiece with a 3-0 victory Tuesday night.

Michela Cava scored her second goal in as many games and Sophie Jacques scored twice to lead Minnesota to the Game 2 win. Jacques was acquired from Boston in February in the PWHL’s first-ever trade when Minnesota sent Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook. Jacques was the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Award winner, given to college hockey’s top player. Since joining Minnesota, she scored two goals and added eight assists in 17 games. She doubled that total with a pair of tallies Tuesday night. More importantly, she helped even the series.

“Coming in here we knew we had to get one win on the road. And I think we played really well today coming back from Sunday’s game,” Jacques said following the game. 

Tapani scored a big goal in the opening game as Boston edged Minnesota 4-3 to take a 1-0 series lead. But Tapani and the rest of her team couldn’t solve Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley, who stopped all 20 shots that came her way on Tuesday.

Minnesota has three shutouts in their seven playoff games. Maddie Rooney had started the previous four games for Minnesota.

“We have two great goalies,” said Minnesota Head Coach Ken Klee. “All year we’ve kind of rotated back and forth. Obviously, Maddie [Rooney] got hot in the first round so it was tough to take her out, but we knew we could go back to Nicole [Hensley] at any point, and she would be ready to go. And obviously, she played fantastic for us tonight.” 

Cava and Jacques scored first-period goals two minutes apart for a 2-0 lead. Neither team could find the back of the net for the second period and much of the third. Finally, Jacques scored an empty-netter to seal the win and send the series back to Minnesota Friday tied 1-1.

“I thought it was a great game,” said Boston head Coach Courtney Kessel. “They capitalized and we didn’t. You can’t come into a championship thinking you’re just going to sweep, so we’re ready for a battle and that’s what we saw tonight.” 

Game 3 will be at the XCEL Energy Center. Puck drop is 6 p.m. With Minnesota’s win, there is also a guarantee of of a Game 4 which will also be played at the XCEL Energy Center on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Tickets for Friday’s game can be purchased at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0600607BD47F5D74?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8-vHgAgemrtU7rQqID9qxqZHhePNSYpbj4JhSaKuvGyfoPGgl_CgCRCbEOEPkhmMV0OLPJfcEE3Et6WuCqCR4jGmkdRQ&_hsmi=308161301&utm_content=308161301&utm_source=hs_email