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Riveters Try Once More to Beat Undefeated Pride

The Metropolitan Riveters will face the Boston Pride for the sixth time on Monday and hope to hand them their first loss of the season. Spoiler alert, it will be an extremely difficult feat. 

The Boston Pride have broken an NWHL record by going 18-0 this season, with the longest win streak in one season. While obviously, this is still impressive, it must be noted that prior to this season, only 16 games were played in a season. 

The Riveters were able to be the first team to score first in a game against the Pride this season, but the team that has come the closest to actually beating them is the last place Connecticut Whale. The Whale took them to a shootout and ultimately lost, before breaking their losing streak against the Rivs. Basically, the odds are definitely not in Metropolitan’s favor. 

Boston Still Playing Injured

While the Pride claim the league’s best goalie in Lovisa Selander, they have been without some pretty key pieces to their offense in Mary Parker and Alyssa Wohlfieler. 

Coming off of a sold-out home win for Denna Day, the Pride are buzzing and not looking to stop anytime soon. However, if the Riveters can capitalize off of the small holes in their lineup and can minimize their penalties, they may be able to spark something. 

Unfortunately for them, they are also without Ashley Johnston and Anna Keys, two irreplaceable aspects of their defense. 

A bright side to this game is that the Riveters will only have one more matchup with the Pride following it, and can focus on solidifying their third-place spot and possibly chipping away at second place in the standings with a lot of home games against the lower-ranked opponents. 

Players To Watch

Kate Leary: I feel like Leary had a bit of a quiet set of games last weekend by her standards, which just means it’s time to bounce back and make some magic. 

Kendall Cornine: Of Cornine’s 12 goals on the season, six have been against the Pride. If anyone is going to spark something against them, it’s going to be Cornine with Packer getting the assist. 

Leila Kilduff: Getting on the top defensive pair with Rebecca Morse will hopefully push Kilduff with the confidence and energy to play her game. Kiira Dosdall is back in the lineup but not playing in her usual spot. Instead, Kilduff is. I believe she is due for a breakout game.

Predictions 

.@Riveters and @TheBostonPride lineups for the matinee game on MLK Day (Jan. 20)

Again no Johnston and Keys on defense. Means Dunne and Simon join the top six. Dosdall plays first game in 2020. pic.twitter.com/8tKCRkOJqq

— Matt Falkenbury (@MattFPxP) January 17, 2020

Despite the recent shakeup in the league and injuries, I don’t foresee the Riveters being the first to conquer the big, bad Pride. At least not this time around. I’ll predict a close game in 5-3, but give the Pride another win.

The game will be at 1:30 pm EST in Boston and streamed on the NWHL Twitch channel as always.

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DAB Pregame: Devils Look to Stop Skid Before Break

The New Jersey Devils are back on the ice tonight to square off against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Coming off a couple rough games against the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Devils eyeing a return to the win column. In order to lock up a win before the All-Star break, the Devils will have to tighten up their defensive zone play, as well as get a nice showing from Cory Schneider, who’ll get the start. Columbus is 6-1-1 in their last 8 home games, so it won’t be easy, but they are pretty banged up at the moment, which New Jersey will need to try and take advantage of.

Players to Watch

Blake Coleman

Coleman has been having yet another great season and is just one goal away from 20 on the season (six goals in his last five games). The consistent effort and energy level Coleman brings to the ice is something this team desperately needs and can feed off of, especially on the penalty kill. Coleman will most likely be pushing to hit that 20-goal mark before the break, so keep an eye out whenever #20 is on the ice.

Cam Atkinson

Atkinson just returned after a month-long absence, tallying a goal and an assist in a win over the Carolina Hurricanes two nights ago. Atkinson seemed to like playing the Devils last season, posting four goals and five total points in their four games during the season, and he is certainly capable of picking a corner if given the time.

Projected Lines

New Jersey Devils

• Wood – Hischier – Bratt
• Coleman – Zajac – Gusev
• Zacha – Hughes – Simmonds
• Boqvist – Rooney – Hayden

• Greene – Subban
• Severson – Vatanen
• Butcher Carrick

• Schneider
• Blackwood

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Nyquist – Jenner – Foligno
• Bemstrom – Dubois – Atkinson
• Gerbe – Wennberg – Stenlund
• Lilja – Nash – Robinson

• Werenski – Jones
• Gavrikov – Savard
• Harrington – Nutivaara

• Merzlikins
• Kivlenieks

Where to Watch

7:00 MSG+

Prediction

This game has the potential to be a very back and forth matchup. Both teams are going to have their fair amount of offensive chances, and it’s going to come down to which goalie can help bail their teammates out. With Schneider getting the start, the Devils are going to need to avoid giving up a goal in the opening minutes and allow Cory to settle into the crease. I think this might end up being a high-scoring game, with New Jersey coming out on top 5-3.

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