NWHL Isobel Cup Finals - Boston Pride v Buffalo Beauts

[darksabre]

The Beauts were slow to start the season but upset the Connecticut Whale to make it to the Cup Finals. Game 1 is streaming right now on the NWHL YouTube account and puck drop is coming shortly.

 

For those that want to see it on a big screen, I'm running it on the YouTube app on my xbox and it appears to be an HD feed.

[pi2000]

[darksabre]

Great first period for Buffalo. They were forechecking well and will be on the power play to start the 2nd.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Score(d)?

[darksabre]

0-0

 

I believe they said shots were 9-7 Boston.

[MattPie]

I'm some bad luck, I flipped it on and 10 seconds later...

[darksabre]

2-1 Boston after 2.

 

Boston with control for most of that period. They went up 2-0, scoring first on a 3 on 1, and then later during 4 on 4 play.

 

Buffalo managed to score with about 2 minutes left to keep themselves in the game.

[thewookie1]

2-1 Boston  :censored:

[pastajoe]

Any crowd there? Dumb idea to have it at a neutral site instead of at the higher seed's city.

[darksabre]

Buffalo with a ton of pressure to start the third.

Any crowd there? Dumb idea to have it at a neutral site instead of at the higher seed's city.

Crowd is full and very pro Buffalo.

Beauts tie it! 13:42 to go.

[Randall Flagg]

WOOOOOOO Nice pressure and tie game!!

[darksabre]

Steadman on the PP and the Beauts are up 3-2!

7:22 to go. Three unanswered goals.

Boston ties it back up on the PP. I think it was actually a Buffalo defender who put it in.

Overtime.

[TrueBlueGED]

It's possible Boston tied it up as soon as I turned it on... :ph34r:

[darksabre]

It's possible Boston tied it up as soon as I turned it on... :ph34r:

Boooooo

So the NWHL is using their own rules for these Finals games. One 4v4 20min OT followed by a shootout if needed. Interesting.

[JujuFish]

Is it me or are these announcers biased?  About the most blatant trip ever on Buffalo, not only is there no call, but the announcers were calling for a diving penalty.

[darksabre]

Heartbreaker for Buffalo. Buffalo player covered the puck in the crease to prevent a goal and Hillary Knight scores on the penalty shot.

 

Heck of a game though.

[Buffano DeBoom]

That is some slow hockey. Should be on a smaller surface - a lot of open white ice.

[darksabre]

Is it me or are these announcers biased? About the most blatant trip ever on Buffalo, not only is there no call, but the announcers were calling for a diving penalty.

I agreed with the announcers. I shouted 'dive' at the TV before the announcers even thought it.

[TrueBlueGED]

Well, that sucked. Although Hilary Knight  :wub:

[darksabre]

That is some slow hockey. Should be on a smaller surface - a lot of open white ice.

It's definitely not the same speed or physicality of the men's game, but I enjoy watching them play. I know some of the ladies on the Beauts so I like seeing them play after college.

Well, that sucked. Although Hilary Knight :wub:

She's a machine. Dreamy.

[JujuFish]

I agreed with the announcers. I shouted 'dive' at the TV before the announcers even thought it.

Maybe, but that second announcer really seems like a Boston homer to me.  The play-by-play guy seemed pretty neutral.

[Buffano DeBoom]

It's definitely not the same speed or physicality of the men's game, but I enjoy watching them play. I know some of the ladies on the Beauts so I like seeing them play after college.

 

She's a machine. Dreamy.

I enjoyed the few minutes I watched it, but even the skill level looks below what one would expect for the top athletes in a given sport.

And couldn't the Buffalo club come up with a better name - given the history of the city.

[darksabre]

I enjoyed the few minutes I watched it, but even the skill level looks below what one would expect for the top athletes in a given sport.

Women's hockey is still growing as a sport. It's going to take time for them to really cultivate an abundance of high level talent. They've really had no reason to without a good pro league to aim for. It's college, maybe a Canadian league, and maybe Olympics. Not a ton of incentive beyond love of the game.

 

I hope a pro league with US teams and real salaries can push the skill level up. These girls have talent.

[Buffano DeBoom]

Unless it is subsidized by the nhl ala wnba, don't see it being super successful, but I wish them luck.

Edited March 12, 2016 by Buffano DeBoom

[sabills]

Women's hockey is still growing as a sport. It's going to take time for them to really cultivate an abundance of high level talent. They've really had no reason to without a good pro league to aim for. It's college, maybe a Canadian league, and maybe Olympics. Not a ton of incentive beyond love of the game.

 

I hope a pro league with US teams and real salaries can push the skill level up. These girls have talent.

 

If one or both leagues have success, I forsee a merger with the CWHL in the future. Create a 8 man team, merging the two Boston teams, and move Calgary east to some where else (maybe philly or pittsburgh). That would be cool. It'd be to bad that there'd be nothing out west, but having only ONE team out west is even worse.

 

I'm sad I didn't make it to any games this year, I'll have to rectify that next year.