Worcester, MA – After taking on the Markham Thunder in a blowout opening weekend, the Worcester Blades returned to Worcester to face the Toronto Furies for their first regular season games at the Worcester Ice Center.
This weekend gave us a better look at the Blades and how they stack up against similarly ranked teams skill-wise, not just CWHL’s Clarkson Cup Champions Markham Thunder they faced last week.
Mariah Fujimagari made 27 saves in the home opener on Saturday, which was the first full game she suited up for. Blades’ offense also looked entirely different compared to last week in Saturday’s matchup, outshooting Toronto 41-29. Blades defense limited the Furies to just two goals. Casey Stathopolous picked up her second goal of the season and Toronto’s Natalie Spooner picked up her second and third in the Blades 2-1 loss.
Jess Convery started in net for Worcester in Game Two and was replaced Lauren Dahm after the first period after allowing two goals to Shiann Darkangelo, her first and second goals of the season. Convery made 9 saves on 11 shots on Sunday and Dahm made 16 saves in her perfect relief effort. Furies ended up taking game two in a 2-0 shutout win.
Blades are in dire need of some scoring of any kind going into Week three. They have been unable to score on any power play chances with the only goals coming at even strength. Worcester has scored just two goals in four games and has allowed 16, with the only two goals being scored by Casey Stathopolous. When the Blades can keep up with shots or even outshooting the opposing team as they did in both games this week, they will need to work on getting more quality shots and better opportunities to score going forward.
Worcester is the only team in the CWHL that hasn’t won a game this season and will continue to work for it heading into Week 3.
Back in Worcester: The Blades (0-4, 0 pts) will welcome the first place Calgary Inferno (3-1, 6pts)to Worcester for two games next weekend. Game one will take place on Friday at 6 PM, and Game two will take place on Saturday at 12:30 PM. Both games will be played at the Worcester Ice Center on Harding Street.