Lowell - They just need to win.
This is what is said in the middle of the second stage. Whether in regulation, overtime or gunfight, there is a favorable result that will book the fleet’s ticket to the playoffs.
Such tasks tend to encourage a sense of urgency. It often requires combat.
But by then, victory is out of reach.
Boston (15-10-5-0) ended its regular season game against Minnesota (15-11-2-2) and headed to the finish line, losing 8-1 at the Tsongas Center on Saturday afternoon.
In the second stage, Ottawa defeated Toronto 2-1 in overtime. This means that Boston must win in any way necessary to qualify for the playoffs.
"One of our teammates asked if we wanted to update between (periods), and we said no," forward Hilary Knight said. "But our staff were between the second and third times and said it was a case of one or die."
The group gave up the most unbalanced loss of the 2024-25 season. As a result, they will miss the playoffs after winning a win in the Walter Cup in the PWHL inaugural season.
Saturday’s failure also marked the most goals allowed in any game in franchise history.
Technically, Boston scored three-pointers with a three-point draw in Ottawa and Minnesota, with each team scoring 44 points on Saturday on the final buzzer. However, neither of the fleet defeated the finale.
"This league is so close. It's hard to grab a point," Knight said. "It kind of caused the problem at this point, and how those previous games went."
Starting goalkeeper Aerin Frankel returns after an upper body injury suffered in the 2025 IIHF World Championship gold medal match.
This gave the squad a cornerstone in the crease as she won a team-high 12 wins in 23 games.
"She has been our number one since day one. We wouldn't have been there last year or this year without her." "She knew how to play, so I think you have to go with your horse."
But it will be a short outing.
Frost sent a shot to Frankel in opening time, where Britta Curl-Salemme took the puck to the top of the right circle. The forward sent it online without blockers and got exactly what she wanted.
The deficit only deepened after a few moments.
Defensive Lee Stecklein turned around at the back of the network and found a vacant in the low slot, beating Frankel for the second time.
Strength exerts further damage. Defensive Megan Keller made a cross-check and Kendall Coyne Schofield turned it into an expensive mistake.
The hot start of Minnesota, which striker RBI, was the final of three goals in the opening game.
"Sometimes, it's not always on the goalkeeper, and it's really unfortunate," Kessel said. "I honestly feel scary about (Frankel) because it's not a situation she wants to bring in - we're not ready to go when the puck drops."
Appearance, space, time - you name it, frost has it. The only shots of the master with the remaining five minutes of the first frame are from outside the blue line. Throughout the period, Boston beat 10-3.
Kessel gave Frankel a hook for the second time throughout the season, choosing to start the new game for the second time.
The disaster rolled only with Klára Peslarová, taking on the duties between the pipelines.
Sophie Jaques took a pass in the right circle alone and took it home manually. Then, this time was in the power play again with the curls - lemma - making the deficit a tough 5-0 into the second half.
Kessel was forced into a desperate place and pulled Pestlarovavava for more than a third minute. The weird advantages it grants will provide some solace, which ultimately leads to a score from defender Jessica Digirolamo.
"This injury will last for a while, but I think we have a lot of good memories and joy," said defensive player Megan Keller. "Once it fades, we'll remember all the laughter we've encountered in the locker room (and the adversity we've overcome in a group. It's a special group."
It was in this building that the team beat the winners’ fifth game, and last season it could crown them the PWHL championship.
Provided by the franchise efforts, they didn't even have the chance to redeem it.