Sceptres Snap Slump Against Visiting Fleet

The Toronto Sceptres defeated the Boston Fleet in a close, chippy game on Friday at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, the first game after the Christmas break. It was the first game for Boston in ten days.

Defender Rylind MacKinnon was given a one-game suspension for a hit on Amanda Boulier in the Sceptres’ game against Montreal, so reserve player Jess Kondas signed a 10-day SPA and played her first game in the league.

Tension was evident from the drop of the puck, with some early season adversity affecting both teams. With many of the PWHL’s hitting leaders also participating, it was no surprise that physical play played a large role as well. Toronto’s Sarah Nurse took a hard check from Hannah Bilka midway through the first and seemed to hurt her arm or wrist. She briefly went to the dressing room but returned.

The Sceptres believed their effort against Montreal, a 4-3 OT loss, was their best yet and are still searching for the process which will bring results. The team has faced adversity from missing players, goaltending questions, lineup switches, and slow starts. Backup netminder Raygan Kirk got her second consecutive start after a good showing against the Victoire.

“Built off the Montréal game, so a step in the right direction," said head coach Troy Ryan. "I liked a lot of things, mostly our 5-on-5 play, but nice to score a power play goal as well. I just think we did a lot of the little things very well, how we want to be playing 5-on-5.”

Special teams have been a big problem, as well as faceoffs, but Toronto seemed to do better in those areas with several early chances. Boston countered with long stretches in the offensive zone, pinning in the Sceptres but unable to capitalize.

Boston took the first three penalties and the power plays included a short five-on-three for Toronto. After its conclusion, captain Blayre Turnbull scored with a short-side shot on Aerin Frankel. The goal also provided rookie Julia Gosling with her first PWHL point, as she tallied an assist.

Then it was another rookie (although technically a sophomore), Jess Kondas, who snuck in from the blue line, took a snap pass from Daryl Watts, and wired it over the glove of Frankel at 2:06 into the second period.

The flow of play was uneven with some fractious moments, awkward collisions, and inconsistent refereeing, but one constant was Frankel’s ability to make a big save whenever the Sceptres threatened. Toronto’s top four defenders played huge minutes, and second-pair blueliner Kali Flanagan led the way in ice time until the third period. The Fleet got on the board with a power play goal by Loren Gabel who got two chances at a loose puck and was able to put it behind Kirk.

The final frame was tight as you would expect between two teams who have trouble scoring and don't want to risk penalties or special teams play. The neutral zone was clogged up and not many shots were registered. Finally, with just over six minutes remaining, it was Julia Gosling — with her best game of the young season — who asserted herself by winning a battle at her own blue line and sent in Jesse Compher who wired a pass over to Emma Woods. Woods took a wrist shot that beat Frankel clean and put Toronto up by two goals.

When Boston pulled Frankel with five minutes remaining to try to score two goals, the Sceptres stood strong, as did goaltender Kirk. Fittingly, it was Flanagan who ultimately iced the game with an empty net goal.

Late in the game on the power play again, Boston scored a goal that was challenged for goaltender interference but ultimately stood up.

The game was a battle between two very similar teams with early season frustrations and many issues still to be solved, especially on the offensive side of the game.

The 4-2 victory marks the first win for goaltender Raygan Kirk, the first-ever goal for Jessica Kondas, and the first two points for Julia Gosling. As they head into the new year, the standings are tightening and the three points for Toronto are a major step in the right direction.