OTTAWA, Ontario — In a thrilling contest on Tuesday night, Blayre Turnbull of the Toronto Sceptres capitalized on a turnover by the Ottawa Charge to net a crucial goal, securing a 4-2 victory for her team.
Toronto’s offensive effort was bolstered by goals from Maggie Connors and Hannah Miller, while Emma Maltais sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final moments of the game. Despite struggling to maintain consistency throughout the season with just three wins, the Sceptres outperformed Ottawa in shots, registering 39 to Ottawa’s 24. However, the Charge’s goalie, Emerance Maschmeyer, put forth a commendable performance, making 34 saves to keep her team competitive.
On Ottawa’s side, Mannon McMahon and Victoria Bach found the back of the net, while Kristen Campbell recorded 22 saves in goal. A pivotal moment occurred mid-way through the third period when Ronja Savolainen lost control of the puck at the top of the slot, allowing Turnbull to swoop in and score, putting Toronto ahead 3-2. Maltais then contributed an empty-net goal with only 1:58 on the clock to solidify the win.
Looking back, Toronto created numerous scoring opportunities but faced challenges converting them against Maschmeyer. Conversely, Ottawa showcased strong special teams performance, successfully killing off all four of Toronto’s power play attempts.
A notable highlight for Ottawa came in the second period. While trailing 2-1, a fortunate bounce occurred behind the Toronto net when the Sceptres’ clearing attempt inadvertently hit Campbell’s skate, resulting in an unexpected goal that pulled Ottawa within one.
In terms of individual performances, Victoria Bach had a strong outing, contributing one goal and an assist, marking her third consecutive game with at least one point. She has now scored in three of her four appearances with the Charge after her trade from Toronto on December 31.
Looking ahead, the Sceptres are set to face the Boston Fleet on Wednesday, while the Charge are scheduled to visit the Montreal Victoire on Sunday.
