LOWELL, Mass. (Interstat) — Aerin Frankel made 21 saves, Alina Müller had a goal and an assist, and the Boston Fleet defeated the Toronto Sceptres 2-1 in a Professional Women’s Hockey League game on Jan. 14 at Tsongas Center. Boston improved to 8-4, while Toronto dropped to 4-8. The Fleet scored once in the second period and again in the third, then held off a late Toronto push after the Sceptres cut the lead to one. Boston entered after an overtime loss to Ottawa in its previous game. Toronto had lost to New York in its previous game. Boston also won the most recent meeting between the teams earlier this season.

Frankel, a 5-foot-5 goaltender from Chappaqua, N.Y., finished with 21 saves on 22 shots. She earned the win. Müller, a 5-foot-5 center, opened the scoring 45 seconds into the second period from Haley Winn and Megan Keller. Müller finished with one goal, one assist and one shot and was Boston’s top star. Winn, a 5-foot-6 defender, had one assist, one shot and one hit. Keller, a 5-foot-11 defender, added one assist, three shots and two hits. The goal gave Boston the lead.

Shay Maloney gave Boston a two-goal cushion at 16:54 of the third period, scoring from Jill Saulnier and Müller. Maloney, a 5-foot-9 center, finished with one goal, three shots and two hits. Saulnier, a 5-foot-5 left wing, recorded one assist and one shot. Boston led 2-0 after Maloney’s goal. Müller’s assist on the play gave her a multi-point game.

Toronto broke through at 18:18 of the third period when Emma Maltais scored from Claire Dalton and Ella Shelton. Maltais, a 5-foot-3 left wing, had one goal, three shots, four penalty minutes and one hit. Shelton, a 5-foot-8 defender, added one assist, two shots and two hits. Daryl Watts, a 5-foot-6 left wing, recorded three shots and two penalty minutes for Toronto. Blayre Turnbull, a 5-foot-7 center, had one shot and one hit. Toronto could not find an equalizer against Frankel and Boston’s defense.

There were several penalties in the game. Toronto’s Watts was called for hooking at 2:58 of the first period. Jesse Compher received a holding penalty at 16:37 and an interference penalty at 18:42 of the opening period. Boston’s Rylind MacKinnon was whistled for tripping at 16:30 of the second period. In the third, Boston’s Sophie Shirley was called for tripping at 2:20 and hooking at 10:08. Toronto’s Kali Flanagan was cited for delay of game at 5:47. Maltais received hooking at 7:00 and illegal body checking at 10:08. Both teams were assessed multiple minor penalties.

Toronto has now lost eight of its first 12 games. The Sceptres dropped recent games to New York, Seattle in overtime, Minnesota, Ottawa in overtime, Montreal in overtime, Montreal and Boston, with wins over Montreal, New York and Ottawa. Boston has won eight of its first 12 games. The Fleet lost to Ottawa in overtime in its previous game, beat Seattle, lost to Vancouver, lost to Ottawa in a shootout, beat Seattle, lost to Minnesota, beat New York, beat Minnesota, beat Vancouver and beat Toronto earlier this season.

Boston protected its lead after Maltais scored. Frankel stopped the final Toronto attempts, and the Fleet held on for their eighth win. Toronto fell despite Maltais’ late goal and a late push. The Fleet’s defense, led by Keller and Winn, limited Toronto in the closing minutes. Frankel finished with 21 saves on 22 shots.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Boston with a 55.2 percent probability to win. Boston will next visit the Seattle Torrent, while Toronto will host the Vancouver Goldeneyes.