Pride Advance to Isobel Cup Final After 5-1 Win Over Six

Boston Pride players McKenna Brand, Kayla Friesen, and Kali Flanagan celebrate Flanagan’s first period goal. Image via Michelle Jay

While I believe I’ll sleep well tonight, it may be tough after a game like that. 

Let’s talk about Boston, because this team has turned into the monster we expected. Paul Mara mentioned focus, and a focused and determined Pride team advanced to the Isobel Cup Final tonight. Let’s look at what got them there. 

Similar to Friday night’s matchup against the Beauts, Boston looked like something we saw earlier in the year. A little sluggish, behind, and out of control. With the first ten minutes of play belonging to Toronto in a possession battle that seemed one sided. For 10 minutes, Katie Burt’s goaltending kept the Pride in this game. 

After a penalty on the Pride, a strange turn of events occurred when two Six player committed penalties resulting in a 4-on-3 for 2 minutes. On that advantage Christina Putigna sent one home and opened up scoring. Immediately as the second penalty expired, Kali Flanagan burst with speed to the net and notched the Pride their second goal. 

The first period fun wasn’t over yet. Kayla Friesen sent home a goal that was ruled good after review. However, before the period could end, Toronto would score to send the teams to intermission with a 3-1 Pride lead. 

Period 2 continued Pride domination with great control in the offensive zone. More back and forth and evenly dispersed. A lucky bounce for Evelina Raselli tallied a fourth goal for the Pride and sent the teams to the locker rooms with the Pride ahead 4-1. 

Period 3 showed a lot of fight on Toronto’s end. Never giving up on their hopes to make it to the Final, Toronto battled to the end. Taylor Wenczkowski continued to make hockey look easy in notching the final goal on the power play to put the Pride up 5-1 before the horn sounded. 

Main takeaways from this game: Boston’s game is working. Coach Paul Mara knew what his team had in them, and it has shown in the last two games. With the power play looking to be in working order, the Pride are in a prime spot to become the first team to hoist back-to-back Isobel Cups. 

That being said, Connecticut looks ready. They’re a well oiled machine and will do anything to claim their first Isobel Cup. That game airs on ESPN2 at 9:00 EST for U.S. viewers, TSN2 for Canadian viewers, and ESPN+ affiliates for international fans.