Taylor Heise and Sophia Kunin each scored less than eight minutes into the game, Nicole Hensley made 33 saves and Minnesota beat Boston 3-2 on Wednesday night in Lowell, Mass., in the Professional Women’s Hockey League debut for both franchises.
Heise, the No. 1 overall pick, scored the first goal in Minnesota history — and the first league goal scored on American ice early in the first period. Kunin capitalized on another Boston turnover and beat Aerin Frankel with a shot from the circle.
STATE OF HEISE CONFIRMED. <br><br>Watch first overall PWHL Draft Pick Taylor Heise score the first franchise goal! 🎉 <a href=”https://t.co/cgGWsSjnKh”>pic.twitter.com/cgGWsSjnKh</a>
—@PWHL_Minnesota
Theresa Schafzahl, a former star for Vermont, scored the first goal in PWHL Boston history, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 2-1 at 7:59 of the second period. But Grace Zumwinkle, a University of Minnesota alum, scored just 55 seconds later with a shot off the crossbar from the slot to regain a two-goal advantage.
Megan Keller sent in a shot from the blue line for a power-play goal with 2:40 to go. But Hensley sealed it with a glove save at the final horn.
Boston will stay at home to play Ottawa on Monday.
The remaining 17 PWHL games on CBC Sports’ schedule – which includes Minnesota’s home opener on Saturday against Montreal at 3:30 p.m. ET – will all take place on Saturdays.
The full schedule is available here.
WATCH | Minnesota selects Heise 1st overall in PWHL draft:
History is made as tennis legend Billie Jean King announces University of Minnesota forward and 2022 Patty Kazmaier award-winner Taylor Heise as the first-ever PWHL draft pick.
