Nurse Leads Toronto In Romp Over New York

Sarah Nurse scored a hat trick and PWHL Toronto romped New York 6-2 at UBS Arena securing home ice advantage for Toronto, and keeping New York from locking up the first overall pick.

PWHL Toronto rode a three-goal performance by forward Sarah Nurse -- and New York was in turmoil both on the ice and during a brief bench uprising -- as the visitors to Long Island were at maximum force in a 6-2 romp at UBS Arena on Sunday afternoon in Elmont.

Facing the prospect of home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, Toronto was opportunistic from the opening puck drop and took care of business emphatically while leaving the already embattled hosts in major meltdown.

With the 1,668 fans at the Belmont Park area complex and a television audience looking on midway through the second period, New York captain Micah Zandee-Hart demanded and yelled out for an impromptu meeting during a timeout and -- according to the announcers -- appeared to be chastising them about their overall play.

The score at the time of the incident was 4-0 with less than half of the game having been completed. And it came just four days after New York surrendered five goals in a 5-2 setback to Montreal.

Toronto forward Sarah Nurse put the icing on the cake with her first PWHL hat trick, including two in the opening moments of the first and third periods; and another during a power play in the initial 20 minutes.

And although she and coach Troy Ryan, in TV interviews, were not thrilled with everything about the effort as the visitors were outshot 33-29 and did have some breakdowns, Nurse was nonetheless optimistic as the post-season action draws near.

"Obviously, not coming out with our best hockey but still finding ways to win shows the strength of the team, and its heart and character," said Nurse after the game. "I'm very proud of the group and I know that going forward we're going to be ever better."

Alexa Vasko and Natalie Spooner added goals within the first six minutes of the second period to continue widening the gap, and Toronto's fourth line also got in on the scoring flurry at 5:29 of the third period when Rebecca Leslie notched her second this season via one of the two helpers in the game by Brittany Howard.

Leslie's goal prompted New York coach Howie Draper to replace goalie Abbey Levy with Lindsey Post, who in the process savored her first PWHL appearance between the pipes.

Nurse, who had scored twice including the game-winner last Saturday against Montreal, deposited a wrister past New York netminder Abbey Levy just 1:05 into the game and came through again with a tally on the advantage at the 12:26 mark.

Nurse's third goal a minute into the third period came off a great assist from Spooner, whose goal and assist upped her point total to 23 this season.

Abby Roque's fifth goal with just over 11 minutes remaining, and Brooke Hobson's first PWHL tally prevented Toronto netminder Kristen Campbell from recording her fourth shutout. She turned aside 31 of the 33 shots by New York.

Toronto's Sarah Nurse notched her third multi-point game and now has 20 points ...Teammate Natalie Spooner's goal gives her a league leading 16 in the 22 games ... Spooner (16) and Nurse (10; tied with Laura Stacey and Grace Zumwinkle)) rank first and second in goals scored in the league ... Emma Maltais, who entered the game tied for third in rookie scoring, logged her 13th assist to give her 16 points ... New York's Ella Shelton, who stood at No. 2 in league scoring among defenders when play started, garnered her 10th assist and 15th point on Roque's goal ... Toronto's Renata Fast is on a three-game point streak and her 9th assist (on Nurse's first goal) gives her 12 points.