Confident, Not Cocky: Pride Embark for Threepeat
Photo via: Julien Segui
The season starts now.
Okay, okay. Yes, the season started on November 5, but the postseason starts now and some consider that the same thing.
19 wins and 54 points later, the Pride’s season has seen a lot. A regular season wins and save record on the books, alongside a tie for most regular season points cap of the records. From overtime thrillers, heartbreakers, and blowouts the season met expectations. Which is a positive note considering the last two regular seasons were not up to Boston fans’ standards.
Nonetheless, the Pride face the chance of a threepeat in part due to the fresh faces. Loren Gabel led the way with 40 points in 24 games, far exceeding expectations. Corinne Schroeder notched 19 wins amid an insane save percentage and .GAA. Becca Gilmore, Taylor House, and Elizabeth Giguere were massive contributors on offense as well as in the two-way game. To say the least, these new additions pushed the Pride over the edge in comparison to previous seasons.
Veteran presence shone through as well. Jillian Dempsey lived around third in the league for points the entire season, centering the Gabel line time after time. Kaleigh Fratkin notched game-winning and tying goals from the blue line (alongside her normal amount of penalty minutes). Kali Flanagan and Kayla Friesen stepped up in their second year with a strong defensive game and offensive assistance at their respective positions. Finally, Christina Putigna managed to remain dominant alongside veteran forward and new Pride member Allie Thunstrom creating scoring and finding miracle points at moments.
Generalizations of the season aside, we’re heading into Thursday hockey at Bentley arena. With the first playoff series being played since 2016’s Isobel Cup Final*.
Head Coach Paul Mara spent the playoff presser focused on one thing: teamwork. And to say the least, teamwork is the name of the game in Boston. Noting McKenna Brand’s PK presence as one of the many shifts to Boston’s lines this season.
Mara has had freedom to play in the last few weeks with his lines. Yet, outside of the season finale in Toronto, they seem to have remained set throughout the final stretch.
As stated on the broadcast last Sunday, it’s hard to remain confident with a target on your back. Yet the Pride have handled it much better this season than in seasons past. It all comes down to the playoffs yet again.
It cannot be ignored that the #1 seed has lost the same amount of Isobel Cup Finals as it has won (3/6). But the Pride got there. While the one game Cup Final is worrisome, especially against a team like Toronto or Connecticut, the Pride have to reach Arizona first.
Minnesota has taken Boston to overtime twice. While falling both times, once in the shootout and the other on a Sammy Davis game-winner, Amanda Levielle returns well-rested and ready to go. Without Allie Thunstrom the Whitecaps' offense faltered at first but has found a nice rhythm in their new home and well exceeded expectations.
This’ll be the second playoff meeting between the two (scheduled third due to the cancellation of the 2020 Final) and it looks to be an all-out battle.
It remains in the confidence of the Pride to make their way to Mullet Arena and raise their third consecutive Cup. The pride lives and dies by the pack. And this year’s squad is more of a pack than ever.
Let’s go get Cup #4.
*2021’s Series Between Buffalo and Boston remains up for debate on if it is a playoff series or a play-in series. While an elimination situation, in this writer's opinion it is a play-in series for a chance at the playoffs.
