Kristen Campbell and Natalie Spooner were clutch for Toronto who selectively picked apart Minnesota to win the opening game of the PWHL playoffs. Here's how they did it.
Kristen Campbell and Natalie Spooner were clutch for Toronto who selectively picked apart Minnesota to win the opening game of the PWHL playoffs. Here's how they did it.
PWHL Toronto took advantage of their home-ice advantage as they beat Minnesota 4-0 to take game one of the series.
Natalie Spooner led the way for Toronto with a goal and two assists while Kristen Campbell completed the shutout in Toronto’s first playoff win.
Spooner Clutch Again
Who else but Natalie Spooner came in the clutch once again for PWHL Toronto in game one of the playoffs.
Spooner was productive from the jump, as nine minutes into the first period Natalie Spooner found room at the top of the circle and shot a missile past Hensley's glove to give Toronto the first goal of the game.
In the second Spooner would find her way back on the score sheet as she set up Blayre Turnbull with a beautiful pass to help Toronto to a commanding 3-0 lead with just under five minutes left in the period.
Spooner would strike again late in the third period feeding another beautiful pass to Turnbull for her second goal of the game.
“I think anytime Spooner has the puck close to the net she is either putting on an accurate shot where the goalie is not or she is making a hard pass to someone's blade,” said Turnbull. “She has been so reliable for us offensively, anytime she has the puck in the o zone she is a threat to score or make a great play.”
Selective shooting
For a team whose strategy regularly looks to throw shots on the net and battle for the rebound, Toronto was very selective with their shots against Hensley.
In the second period, all of Toronto’s four shots on net were in high-danger spots, primarily just outside the crease. In the second two of those four shots went in because of great passing from some of Toronto’s most skilled players.
This was evident on the second goal of the game as Sarah Nurse was able to thread the puck through the legs of three Minnesota players and right on Emma Maltais' stick which she would slide past Hensley.
In total, eight of their total nineteen shots were taken in a high danger area, nearly 50 percent of their shots.
“We have said it eternally all year, if you just try to create low offense, that can be stopped,” said Troy Ryan. “You just try to create high and east-west offense to create that variance which has led to our success.”
While this is a positive it can also be chalked up to the lack of time Toronto controlled the puck in the offensive zone during five-on-five play, resulting in fewer opportunities to set up and shoot the puck.
Soupy continues to perform
Campbell carried her high level of play from the regular season into the playoffs for Toronto stopping all 26 Minnesota shots she faced.
She came in clutch for the team in the final minute of the second period, making multiple tight saves to hold Toronto’s lead heading into the final frame.
“I was feeling really good out there, our team did a great job helping me out by blocking shots and clearing chances,” said Campbell. “I just play one puck at a time, that has been my motto this whole season.”
For Campbell, this was her fourth shutout of the 2024 campaign and her first against Minnesota.
“She’s had an incredible year, at times tonight they were all over us at times in the second period, but no point did I feel like we were in danger because of the control Soupy was playing with,” said Ryan.