NWHL: Buffalo Beauts Capture Hard-Fought OT Win
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NWHL: Buffalo Beauts Capture Hard-Fought OT Win

NWHL: Buffalo Beauts Capture Hard-Fought OT Win by Melissa Burgess

(Photo: Melissa Burgess)

Megan Bozek scored her first goal of the NWHL season on the power play in overtime to give the Buffalo Beauts their second win.

With the victory, the Beauts snap a four-game losing streak, as they defeated the Boston Pride by a score of 4-3.

The back-and-forth game saw plenty of chances from both ends, with some strong passing by the Pride.

While the teams had no trouble making it into their attacking zones, they both struggled at times to put together a solid play once they got there.

The Beauts struck first, with Hailey Browne potting her first of the game shorthanded, assisted by Kourtney Kunichika.

Boston tied it just a short time later, then added a second to go up 2-1. Jordan Smelker and Hilary Knight had the goals for the Pride, including Knight’s league-leading ninth of the season.

Amanda Makela had some strong saves in the second period, as did her counterpart, Brittany Ott. But it would be Hailey Browne playing the devil once more for the Beauts, adding her second of the game to tie things up at two.

With the score tied at the end of the second, teams would exchange goals in the third.

First it’d be Brianna Decker putting the Pride up 3-2, assisted by -- who else? -- Hilary Knight.

However, Devon Skeats tied things up for the Beauts later in the third, with Browne adding an assist for her third point of the game.

In the end, a late penalty to the Pride would do them in.

Amanda Pelkey headed to the box for cross-checking with just 5.4 seconds left in regulation, with things all locked up at three.

That power-play carried into the overtime period for the Buffalo Beauts, and Bozek took advantage with a perfectly placed one-timer from the point to give the team its second win of the season.

Captain Emily Pfalzer and Meghan Duggan had the assists on the overtime game-winner. All three -- Bozek, Pfalzer, and Duggan -- recently returned to the Beauts after Team USA camp.

This game marked the Pride’s first-ever overtime period.

Next week, the Pride will face the Riveters at home, while the Beauts travel to visit the Whale.

As a reminder, all streaming info for NWHL games is available at NWHL.co/cross-ice-pass.

Game stats: NWHL.hockeyshift.com