In a thrilling match on Saturday afternoon at the Bell Centre, the Toronto Sceptres emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over the Montreal Victoire in Professional Women’s Hockey League action. Goalie Elaine Chuli showcased her skills with 29 saves in her first start against Montreal, marking a significant moment in her career after serving as the Victoire’s backup goalie for two years.
Jesse Compher and Daryl Watts were the goal scorers for Toronto, propelling the team to a 4-0-0-2 record. Chuli’s strong performance brought her season record to 3-0-0-0. On the other side, Abby Roque netted a goal for Montreal, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win, as the team suffered their second consecutive loss after a four-game winning streak. Goalkeeper Ann-Renée Desbiens made 23 saves for Montreal.
The game saw Compher opening the scoring for Toronto late in the first period, followed by Roque’s equalizer for Montreal in the second period. However, Watts sealed the victory for Toronto with a crucial goal late in the second period.
With this win, the Sceptres climbed to second place in the PWHL standings, demonstrating their resilience despite missing key defenders due to injuries. Montreal, on the other hand, struggled to convert on their power play opportunities, remaining scoreless in four consecutive games.
One of the key moments of the game came when Laura Stacey’s shot hit the post, narrowly missing the opportunity to tie the game, with Toronto’s Kali Flanagan making a crucial save on the goal line.
