Another shutout for Campbell, ninth win in a row for PWHL Toronto

Article content

If this was a preview of the first ever PWHL Final, few are going to complain.

Article content

The hottest team in the league and the most consistent met for the third time this year, and for the third time Toronto got the better of Montreal, winning 3-0 at Mattamy Athletic Centre.

Article content

It was Toronto’s ninth win in a row and brings them even from a points perspective with Montreal, though with more regulation wins than Montreal they will move into first place for the first time this season.

It was a chippy affair but one that Toronto set both the physical tone and carried the majority of the play.

Hannah Miller opened the scoring early in the first period, banging home a rebound of a Natalie Spooner wrap-around attempt.

Kristen Campbell earned her third shutout of the year, turning aside all 23 shots Montreal fired at her.

Article content

Elaine Chuli came into the game a perfect 5-0 when starting in the Montreal net and earned her first loss.

Midway through the second, a near brawl broke out right in front of the Montreal bench as Toronto’s Rebecca Leslie took a hit and wound up partially in the Montreal bench as the door gave way with the hit.

A number of Toronto players led by – who else? – Allie Munroe came in to show their displeasure with the way their teammate was treated.

The result of it all was three players from each team in the penalty box.

Leslie then joined the game sheet in an offensive way, tipping in an Olivia Knowles shot from the point for her first goal in the PWHL.

Montreal had a chance to tie the game in the final 10 seconds of the second period as Melodie Daoust was sent in on a partial breakaway with Montreal on the power play. Renata Fast used her incredible speed to catch the Montreal forward, forcing her into a challenging shot that Campbell handled rather easily to keep the Toronto lead going into the third.

The same two teams go at it again a week from Sunday in Pittsburgh as the PHWL takes its show on the road.

[email protected]

Share this article in your social network