TORONTO, ON (May 10, 2024) – Jesse Compher scored the game-winning goal with 1:25 remaining in the third period to lead Toronto to a 2-0 victory at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Friday evening.
Toronto now has a commanding 2-0 series lead against Minnesota in the best-of-five semifinal series.
Kristen Campbell made 21 saves to record her second shutout of the series.
Compher’s game-winner was scored on Toronto’s 29th shot on goal. Minnesota netminder Maddie Rooney— along with her team’s 24 blocked shots in the game— stifled Toronto’s offense to that point.
With the game seemingly headed to overtime, tied 0-0 late in the third period, Compher entered the offensive zone with speed, and took the puck behind the net. Minnesota defender Lee Stecklein delivered a hit on Compher, but Emma Maltais recovered the puck and fed it back to Renata Fast at the point. Fast one-timed the puck, which deflected into the net off Compher’s foot to make the game 1-0.
Hannah Miller sealed the victory for Toronto with 10 seconds remaining in the third period, scoring an empty net goal to make the game 2-0.
Rooney made 28 saves in the game, including 11 in the third period, in what was her first start of the series. Nicole Hensley started Game 1 for Minnesota.
Campbell’s shutout comes two days after the netminder made 26 saves to lead her team to a 4-0 victory in Game 1.
Toronto can close out the series on Monday, with Game 3 set to take place at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Postgame Quotes:
Toronto forward Jesse Compher on her game-winning goal: “I honestly didn’t see much. Just try to go to the net as hard as possible. I think we’ve talked about all year– getting in front of goalies, taking their eyes away creates chaos and hopefully good things come from that, and that’s what we experienced there.”
Toronto Head Coach Troy Ryan on if his team’s penalty kill allows them to play a more physical style: “I definitely think it’s a big part of our game. We’re not scared to play physically– we’re not scared to play on that line. We obviously don’t want to go over the line, but knowing when you’re that close to the line, you know you’re going to take penalties at times. I said to the group in the dressing room after I thought that the penalty kill gave us momentum at different times in the game – it’s a big part of our success.”
Minnesota goaltender Maddie Rooney on her team’s play: “I think today we were just a whole new team defensively and offensively, but it started in the defensive zone. They were making my job easy back there.”
Minnesota defender Sophie Jaques on the game’s physicality: “We definitely tried to be more physical today, especially on the forecheck and in the corners and the D zone. It helped us win a lot more battles and generate more chances.”
Notes:
- Attendance: 8,581 (Sell-Out) – Coca-Cola Coliseum at Toronto, ON
- Three Stars: 1) Jesse Compher 2) Kristen Campbell 3) Maddie Rooney
- Shots ended 30-21 in favour of Toronto – They led in all three periods (9-5, 10-8, 11-8).
- Nine shots is the largest differential between the teams in six games this season – The 21 shots are the lowest total by Minnesota against Toronto this season.
- Sarah Nurse (TOR) led all players with four shots on goal – Nine other players tied for second in shots with three apiece.
- Toronto was 0/3 on the powerplay – Minnesota was 0/4
- There has not been a powerplay goal scored by either team in this playoff series.
- Renata Fast (TOR) led all players in ice time at 27:43 – Lee Stecklein (MIN) led her team with 26:07 TOI.
- Compher’s only goal of the regular season also broke a scoreless third period tie and held as the game-winner against Montréal on Feb. 16 in the Battle on Bay Street.
- Campbell is the first PWHL goaltender to record back-to-back shutouts – Her shutout streak stands at 153:34.
- Campbell now has five shutouts this season including three in the regular-season and two in playoffs.
- Rooney’s 28 saves are her third highest total of the season in 11 games.
- Hannah Miller scored to extend her point-streak to five games (2G, 5A).
- Fast and Brittany Howard have assists in both playoff games.
- Nurse and Natalie Spooner had five-game point streaks come to an end.
- This game had the longest goalless stretch of any game all season at 58:35.
- In five head-to-head games prior, all 15 regulation periods had at least one goal – Tonight they played the first two periods scoreless.
- Toronto has now won six straight games – 11 straight wins on home ice.
- Minnesota has now lost seven straight games – They have been shutout in three of their last six.
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