ST. PAUL (Interstat) — Nicole Hensley made 27 saves, and the Minnesota Frost scored twice in the final minute of the third period to secure a 5-2 victory over the Boston Fleet in a Professional Women’s Hockey League game at Grand Casino Arena.

Minnesota improved to 3-2-0, while Boston dropped to 5-1-0. The Frost built a 2-0 lead in the first period, added a third goal early in the second and then held off a Boston comeback in the third. Hensley was the top star for Minnesota, finishing with 27 saves on 29 shots. She was busiest as Boston pushed in the third period, but Minnesota’s late goals removed any doubt. The Fleet were playing the second game of a road trip after a win at New York on Dec. 17. Minnesota had split its previous four games and was looking to build on wins over Ottawa and Seattle.

Minnesota opened the scoring at 6:57 of the first period when Kendall Coyne Schofield scored, with Taylor Fox and Kendall Cooper assisting. Dominique Petrie made it 2-0 at 12:37, scoring with help from Lee Stecklein and Natalie Buchbinder. The first period also featured a boarding penalty to Britta Curl-Salemme at 1:27 and a tripping call against Peyton Anderson at 14:37. Boston could not convert on either power play, and the Fleet trailed after 20 minutes. Hensley stopped every Boston attempt in the opening period.

Curl-Salemme extended the Minnesota lead to 3-0 at 1:28 of the second period, scoring from Denisa Křížová. The Frost protected the advantage through the middle frame, and the teams traded penalties at 18:24. Boston’s Zoe Boyd was called for roughing, while Minnesota’s Dominique Petrie received a slashing minor. Boston entered the third period still searching for a goal, and the Fleet finally found offense against Hensley. Minnesota’s penalty kill and Hensley’s play in net kept Boston off the scoreboard for the first 40 minutes.

Olivia Mobley put Boston on the board at 9:01 of the third period, scoring with assists from Haley Winn and Megan Keller. Just 24 seconds later, Riley Brengman made it a one-goal game, scoring from Mobley and Shay Maloney. The two quick goals cut Minnesota’s lead to 3-2 and quieted the home crowd. The Frost responded in the final minute. Katy Knoll scored at 19:10 from Cooper and Fox, and Kelly Pannek added a goal at 19:52 from Curl-Salemme and Mae Batherson. Hensley finished with 27 saves, including stops during Boston’s third-period surge.

Hensley’s 27-save effort anchored Minnesota. Pannek finished with a goal on one shot, while Fox recorded two assists and two shots. Knoll had a goal, three shots and three hits, and Curl-Salemme contributed a goal, an assist, two penalty minutes and a hit. Coyne Schofield scored on one of her four shots, Cooper had two assists and two shots, and Stecklein added an assist and a shot. For Boston, Mobley had a goal and an assist, and Maloney recorded an assist, two shots and a hit. Brengman’s goal was assisted by Mobley and Maloney. Minnesota’s five goals came from five different skaters, while Boston’s two goals came from Mobley and Brengman.

Minnesota had lost to Boston 4-1 earlier this month, and the Frost avoided a second straight loss to the Fleet. Boston had won its previous five games before the loss, while Minnesota moved above .500 with the home victory. Boston’s loss was its first of the season. The Fleet are scheduled to visit Seattle on Dec. 21, and the Frost are set to host Ottawa on Dec. 21 in Rosemont, Ill. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Minnesota with a 57.8 percent probability to win.