LOWELL, Mass. (Interstat) — Aerin Frankel stopped all 19 shots she faced and Susanna Tapani recorded a goal and an assist as the Boston Fleet defeated the Montreal Victoire 2-0 in a Professional Women’s Hockey League game at Tsongas Center. Boston improved to 1-0, while Montreal fell to 0-1. Frankel’s shutout anchored a Boston effort that scored once in the first period and added insurance in the third.

Tapani opened the scoring 1:13 into the first period, finishing a feed from Jamie Lee Rattray with Sophie Shirley also assisting. The early goal gave the Fleet a lead they never surrendered. Boston’s defense limited Montreal’s chances throughout, though the Victoire generated pressure in spurts. Frankel was steady when called upon, turning aside every shot she saw. The shutout was the centerpiece of Boston’s win, and Frankel was Boston’s top star.

Boston’s Megan Keller scored in the third period to extend the lead, converting at 1:42 with assists from Alina Müller and Tapani. Keller finished with three shots and one hit. Tapani’s two-point afternoon included four shots and one hit. Shirley contributed an assist, two shots and two hits. Montreal’s best chances came from captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who finished with five shots on goal, six penalty minutes and one hit. Haley Winn paced Boston with six shots on goal. Müller had an assist, two shots and one hit. Rattray added an assist. Liz Schepers added three shots for the Fleet. Hadley Hartmetz recorded one hit.

The third period included a sequence of penalties at 1:24. Poulin was sent off for illegal body checking, Laura Stacey received a roughing minor for Montreal and Jill Saulnier was assessed a roughing minor for Boston. Keller’s goal came 18 seconds later, giving Boston a two-goal cushion. Montreal’s Amanda Boulier was called for tripping at 2:26 and interference at 5:17. In the second period, Skylar Irving was penalized for too many players at 2:55, and Poulin received a hooking minor at 16:50. The penalties disrupted Montreal’s attempts to build momentum.

Boston’s special teams and defense protected the lead in the final frame. Frankel made several saves during Montreal’s push, preserving the shutout. The Fleet blocked lanes and cleared rebounds, while the Victoire struggled to convert late. Montreal finished with 19 shots on goal, all stopped by Frankel. Boston’s attack produced enough chances to support the lead, with Winn, Schepers and Tapani among the most active shooters.

The win gave Boston a 1-0 record to start the season. Montreal dropped to 0-1. Frankel’s 19 saves matched the 19 shots on goal she faced. Tapani’s goal and assist made her Boston’s leading scorer in the game. Keller’s third-period goal provided the final margin. Poulin’s six penalty minutes were the most among Montreal skaters. The Victoire’s penalty trouble included six minors overall, while Boston took one minor. Boston’s defensive effort limited second-chance opportunities and kept Montreal from finding a rhythm.

Montreal will look to rebound in its next game, while Boston aims to build on the opening win. The Victoire are scheduled to host New York next, and the Fleet are set to visit Toronto. Both teams will continue their PWHL schedules after the early-season matchup. Boston’s victory marked a strong start behind Frankel’s goaltending and a balanced scoring effort from Tapani, Keller and their linemates.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Montreal with a 50.4 percent probability to win before the game. That projection did not hold, as Boston’s early goal and third-period insurance, combined with Frankel’s 19-save shutout, delivered the Fleet a 2-0 win. The result moved Boston to 1-0 and Montreal to 0-1 in the young PWHL season.