TORONTO – Natalie Spooner made a strong return to the ice, netting her first two goals of the season as the Toronto Sceptres triumphed over the Montreal Victoire with a 4-1 victory on Thursday night. This win comes as a significant boost for the Sceptres against the Progressive Women’s Hockey League leaders, after Montreal’s extended dominance over them this season. Spooner, last year’s league MVP, had just recently returned after a knee injury sidelined her for the initial games of the season. Both of her goals were scored during power plays, showcasing her knack for taking advantage of the team’s opportunities.
In addition to Spooner’s impressive performance, Allie Munroe and Maggie Connors each contributed with goals, bolstering Toronto’s offense. Goalie Kristen Campbell was a key defensive anchor, stopping 25 shots on goal, which helped secure their first victory against Montreal this season. On the other side, Montreal’s Marie-Philip Poulin was the lone goal-scorer for her team, highlighting her as a consistent threat on the ice.
Despite the loss, Montreal Victoire continues to lead the PWHL standings, maintaining a six-point advantage over second-place Toronto, and still hold a game in hand. On the other end, the victory for the Sceptres breaks their four-game losing streak against their formidable opponents and enhances their record to 1-0-2-2 against Montreal this season, contrasting with their unbeaten streak last year.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred shortly after Mikyla Grant-Mentis of Montreal received a penalty for boarding. Seizing the power play, Julia Gosling connected with Spooner via a cross-ice pass, allowing Spooner to secure the opening goal, tapping in a bouncing puck just 5:48 into the game. This set the tone for Toronto’s power play prowess, as they completed the game 2 for 4 with the player advantage.
Looking forward, the Montreal Victoire will travel to Boston for their next game on Saturday, while the Toronto Sceptres are set to host Minnesota on Sunday, eager to build on this victory and close the standings gap with Montreal.
