Beauts look to take two in Beantown

Game 5&6

Buffalo Beauts (2-1-1) vs Boston Pride (2-1-0)

Puck Drop: 7:30PM Saturday | 2:30PM Sunday | Warrior Arena| Boston, MA

TV: NWHL.zone

Know Your Opponent

Boston Pride

Record: (2-1-0) | 4 PTS

Last 10: 2-1-0

League Standings: 3rd Overall

PP: 1st (25.0%)

PK: 4th (85.7%)

What to Watch

1. Shut it down

Boston has scored 11 goals in their three games this season. Six of them have been scored by three players, and five players have one each. It’s lucky for Buffalo that the Beauts are the league’s most effective defense. With 1.25 goals against, the team has kept things tight, thanks in large part to great goaltending and shot suppression.

Both will be key for the Beauts as they face the Pride, who will be fighting hard for the four points available on the weekend. Two wins will give Boston the upper hand in the standings, and four straight losses will surely be a blow for the Beauts, who came into the season a favorite for the Isobel Cup.

2. Powerless play

The prolific scoring machine of the Buffalo Beauts has been throwing up donuts on the power play. Fortunately, the Beauts have been very efficient at even strength scoring. Unfortunately, those missing power play points could have made a huge difference in back-to-back one-goal losses to Minnesota.

Boston’s penalty kill is the worst in the league, which certainly works to Buffalo’s advantage. The Pride are prone to heading to the box - more than four times a game, Boston finds itself down a player. If there was ever an opportunity for Buffalo’s power play to find its groove, this is certainly it.

3. Golden ticket

Dani Cameranesi had herself a tournament at last week’s 4Nations Cup in Canada. Team USA brought home the gold and Cameranesi had a huge role in the team’s success, scoring two goals and adding four assists - good enough for second on the team (and in the tournament) behind Hilary Knight and tied with Brianna Decker (perhaps you’ve heard of them?)

The Buffalo rookie has slotted in with Beauts’ scoring leaders Hayley Scamurra and Maddie Elia. The trio is among the top in the league, and has been nearly unstoppable in four matchups. The line averages two goals a game - which is coincidentally the Pride’s goals allowed per game. All the line has to do is exactly what they’ve done every game and get one more goal from any other player on the team, and the Beauts have a win.

It could even be goaltender Shannon Szabados. Have you seen her wrister? Filthy.

Buffalo Beauts

Forwards

Hayley Scamurra-Maddie Elia-Dani Cameranesi

Kelly Babstock-Emily Janiga-Corinne Buie

Juliana Iafallo-Annika Zalewski-Taylor Accursi

Defense

Emily Pfalzer-Sarah Edney

Blake Bolden-Savannah Harmon

Lisa Chesson-Sarah Casorso

Starting Goaltender: Nicole Hensley and Shannon Szabados will likely split time.