By Michael Heilman

The Boston Pride continued their dominate season Saturday night at the Northtown Center against the Buffalo Beauts. The Beauts were trying to snap their three-game losing streak, and the Pride were looking to move to 16-0.

Twenty-eight seconds into the first period, a hooking call was made against Beauts forward Sara Bustad putting the Pride on the power play. Boston took advantage of the power play as Lexie Laing scored to put the pride up 1-0 with an assist from Carlee Toews. Boston committed two penalties in the first period, and the Beauts committed one, neither team could capitalize. With less than a minute left in the first period, the Pride extended the lead 2-0 on a goal by Lauren Kelly with assists from McKenna Brand and Jillian Dempsey. The Pride remained in the lead 2-0 as the first period ended.

Midway through the second period, the Beauts made it a one-goal game as Erin Gehen scored with an assist from Brooke Stacey to cut Boston’s lead 2-1. Boston would get a goal back five minutes later by Tori Sullivan with assists from Mallory Souliotis and Kaleigh Fratkin to make a 3-1 Boston lead. Buffalo committed one penalty, and Boston committed two penalties in the second period, neither team could capitalize. Boston led 3-1 at the end of the second period.

Boston continued to show why they are the best team in the NWHL right now as the third period got underway. Four minutes and ten seconds into the third period, Jillian Dempsey scored to increase the Pride’s lead 4-1. The Beauts went on a four on three power play as both Boston forward Christina Putigna (slashing) and Beauts forward Iveta Klimasova (Roughing) at eleven minutes and forty-four seconds followed by a cross-checking call on Boston defender Kaleigh Fratkin. The Beauts cut Boston’s lead to 4-2 on a goal by Marie-Jo Pelletier.

Just as the Beauts gained momentum, they gave it right back to Boston as the Pride were going on a power play due to a holding call against Beauts forward Kandice Sheriff. Boston then went back up by three goals 5-2 on a goal by Carlee Toews with assists from Lexie Laing and Lauren Kelly. Boston Pride took care of business as they defeated the Buffalo Beauts 5-2. The Beauts have now lost four straight games.

Boston had thirty-eight shots on goal while Buffalo had twenty-eight. Boston Pride goalie Victoria Hanson saved twenty-six of twenty-eight shots allowing two goals, and Buffalo Beauts goalie Mariah Fujimagari saved thirty-three of thirty-eight shots allowing five goals.

The three stars of the game were Boston forward Carlee Toews with one goal and one assist, Boston forward Jillian Dempsey with one goal and one assist, and Boston forward Lexie Laing with one goal and one assist. These two teams will go at it again in the Northtown Center Sunday at 1 pm.