Boston Fleet @ Toronto Sceptres
2:00 PM ET @ Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto
Watch in Boston: NESN, TV 38
Watch in Canada: CBC
Watch Outside Canada: PWHL YouTube Channel and thepwhl.com
Toronto won their road opener last Friday 2-1 over the Frost. The Fleet won their home opener last Sunday 2-0 over the Victoire. This subtlest of differences in goal differential puts Boston on top of the standings and Toronto second. They are the only teams to have played only one game prior to today.
Who are the Fleet now?
Boston just missed the playoffs last year, and have, like all teams, made some changes coming into this season.
The biggest might be the exit of Courtney Kessel, who is now Princeton’s head coach. Kris Sparre takes over as head coach. He’s an interesting choice, coming from the AHL after some experience in the OHL and in Germany. He has never been a head coach before. He has never coached women’s hockey before.
The other big change is that the Fleet did not protect Hilary Knight and she is now with Seattle.
The biggest non-change is that Aerin Frankel is still in net. She shut out the Victoire in the Fleet opener. Also back are Alina Müller and Megan Keller.
With the exception of the Frost, PWHL teams struggled to score goals last year. The Frost averaged 2.83 goals per game, and the non-frost teams averaged out to 2.44. That seems like another subtle difference, but goal scoring that low requires goaltending and defence that is always at its best.
The Fleet can go one of two directions this season – try to tighten up and allow fewer goals – they allowed 76 against to only 75 for – or they can open up the offence to score more. The trouble with that second plan is Knight led the league in points and was second in goals last year. Müller has not shown that she is capable of that kind of success.
The Sceptres
Noted for getting outshot a lot, particularly in the first half of games, the Sceptres won their first game but they did it by weathering the storm of the Frost’s offence, not by countering it.
Raygan Kirk faced 31 shots on goal, and saved all but one.
Boston is likely to be a very different experience, but the Sceptres have to up their possession game this season.
The Game
Shake off the rust after this long break between games and wow the fans at home.
Lineups will get posted closer to gametime.
