December 17, 2022 – Ho ho ho! The Metropolitan Riveters delivered the perfect Christmas present to their fans, sleighing the Connecticut Whales 5-2 in a festive road victory that sent them into the holiday break with plenty of cheer and momentum.
Setting the Christmas Scene
With temperatures in the 30s and snow falling like a winter wonderland, the Riveters arrived at the Connecticut rink with spirits as high as Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. The team was looking to bounce back from their previous loss in Toronto, where, despite Katie Burt’s stellar goaltending, some unlucky bounces and questionable calls had dampened their holiday spirit.
Head coach Venla Hovi made the strategic decision to start Eveliina Makinen in net, giving Burt some well-deserved rest before their highly anticipated January 7th showdown against Boston at American Dream – the first time Burt will face her former team under the lights.
First Period: The Grinch Tries to Steal Christmas
The opening period was truly “the best of times and the worst of times.” Just 33 seconds in, Connecticut’s Alyssa Wohlfeiler found herself on Santa’s naughty list with a high-sticking penalty. However, the Whales played the role of the Grinch, capitalizing on the Riveters’ surprisingly flat start.
Taylor Girard beat Makinen on her blocker side with an unassisted goal, temporarily stealing the Riveters’ Christmas spirit. Girard tried to add insult to injury with a second breakaway while still shorthanded, but Makinen sent her a firm letter of denial, keeping her team’s holiday hopes alive.
The Riveters’ Catherine Crawley also joined the naughty list at 12:28 for delay of game, but her teammates successfully killed off the penalty.
“We didn’t execute the key points, and it was frustrating to start the game off that way,” reflected head coach Venla Hovi. “The message was a simple one to deliver after the 1st period and at the same time show support for the team.”
Second Period: Christmas Magic Arrives
Like jolly old Saint Nick himself, the Riveters delivered their presents right on schedule in the second period. Emilie Harley, who had been dancing jigs on the bench before puck drop, received Hovi’s intermission message loud and clear.
The Christmas Miracle Begins
At 8:04, Harley dashed past defenders like Rudolph leading Santa’s sleigh, taking a perfect pass from Fanni Garat-Gasparics and blasting the puck home for her first goal of the season. Kelly Babstock provided the perfect screen, blocking goalie Ives’s vision like a parent hiding Christmas presents.
Rapid-Fire Gift Giving
Amanda Pelkey, impressed by Harley’s Christmas magic, decided to add her own present to the pile. Just 45 seconds later, she found herself wide open on a 2-on-1 with Madison Packer, slamming home the go-ahead goal with assists from Packer and Kennedy Ganser.
The Christmas generosity continued as Kelly Babstock decided the Whales weren’t getting any more gifts from Santa this year. Another 45 seconds later, she fired a rocket past Ives off a beautiful feed from Fanni, extending the lead to 3-1.
Three goals in 1 minute and 31 seconds – now that’s what we call Christmas magic!
The Whales called timeout, desperately trying to figure out how to save their season, while Scout Elf controversially reported Sarah Bujold for a body check at 4:04 (though we at Bad Dawg Sports maintain it was just a friendly “hi there” tap).
Third Period: Wrapping Up the Victory
The final period before the holiday break was filled with both joy and some not-so-jolly moments. The Riveters quickly sent two Whales players to the naughty list – Janka Hlinka for high-sticking at 4:02 and Justine Reyes for delay of game at 8:04.
The Whales’ Last Gasp
Connecticut managed to unwrap one small gift when Emma Vlasic scored her first goal of the season at 14:41, stealing the puck from Makinen in the crease to make it 3-2. Makinen was visibly unimpressed, giving the classic stink eye while hydrating after the goal.
Sealing the Christmas Victory
But Amanda Pelkey wasn’t about to let the Whales spoil Christmas. Less than two minutes later, she broke into the zone and beat Ives with a spectacular backhand goal that was pure poetry in motion – a beautiful sight for Riveters fans and nothing but coal-worthy frustration for Whales supporters.
Sarah Bujold added the cherry on top of this Christmas sundae, finding the empty net at 18:47 with assists from Regan Rust, giving the Riveters a commanding 5-2 lead with less than a minute remaining.
Final Christmas Thoughts
Final Score: Metropolitan Riveters 5, Connecticut Whales 2
Goals:
- Riveters: Emilie Harley, Amanda Pelkey (2), Kelly Babstock, Sarah Bujold
- Whales: Taylor Girard, Emma Vlasic
Goaltending: Eveliina Makinen stood tall with 33 saves on 35 shots, handing out denial letters like Santa’s workshop in overtime.
Looking Ahead to the New Year
This victory was the perfect way to sleigh into the holiday break! The Riveters now turn their attention to January 7th at 7 PM ET, when they’ll host Boston at American Dream for their first night game – and Katie Burt’s emotional return against her former team.
Holiday Ticket Special 🎁
To celebrate the season, the Metropolitan Riveters are offering a special holiday promotion! Use promo code RIVSBOGO for buy-one-get-one-half-off tickets through December. The deal works on all ticket levels and includes discounts for other American Dream attractions – perfect for a full day of family fun!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good puck! 🎄⚽🏒
Discover more from Bad Dawg Sports - Global Sports Coverage & Analysis
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
