The Metropolitan Riveters kicked off their new season, in their new threads with a 4-1 win over the Boston Pride on the main rink at the Prudential Center on the opening day of the NWHL season. This was the first game under the Riveters partnership with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
Leading the scoring charge were Miye D’Oench and Harrison Browne who each chipped in a goal and an assist in the first two periods staking the Rivs to a 3-0 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. Alexa Gruschow and Rebecca Russo also netted goals as the Rivs won their first game of the season for the first time in franchise history.
Boston had their chances throughout especially early on, but Katie Fitzgerald – last season’s Goaltender of the Year winner – was on point all afternoon, stopping 30 of the 31 shots she faced from the retooled and revamped Pride roster. Meagan Mangene netted Boston’s only goal of the game/season with 8:21 left in regulation when she snapped a shot past Fitzgerald.
Browne opened the scoring and scored the first NWHL goal in an NHL rink, capitalizing on a puck handling snafu by Boston’s Brittany Ott – while the Pride was on a power play. This is the second time in as many season openers that Browne has scored on Ott (a teammate in college at Maine).
One of the plays that best described the contest in the third period with a 3-1 lead and on a power play, Gruschow hustled back and lunged to negate a shorthanded attempt by Boston’s Emily Field with under five minutes left to go. Gruschow not only broke up the play, but she grinned and showed the media a pretty sizable welt – or battle scar – on her forearm.
Next Week the Riveters will be in Rochester to take on the Buffalo Beauts and the Pride will have their home opener against the Connecticut Whale.
