In the final game of the mini-camp in Toronto, Sarah Fillier showed why she was drafted first overall and made a statement with three goals against the Sceptres.
In the final game of the mini-camp in Toronto, Sarah Fillier showed why she was drafted first overall and made a statement with three goals against the Sceptres.
The third and final game of Toronto’s mini-camp at the Ford Performance Centre was a showcase for the speedy Sarah Fillier, who was everywhere on the scoresheet and the ice.
“It’s nice to get more reps with [Carpenter],” Fillier said.
“Trying to build something for the season, so it's nice when we get a couple of bounces off the stick and some stuff slipping through five hole. Every game I'm trying to be dangerous in the offensive zone so it's nice for our line to get a few.”
Carpenter said, “It's a lot more fun to be on the same line rather than against her, for sure, but, like she said, just we've been working every day to build a little bit more chemistry and it's slowly coming together.”
“We've never even taken a rep in practice before, so it's just totally new.”
The pace was fast right from puck drop, with Toronto rolling out its “identity” line of Blayre Turnbull, Emma Woods, and Emma Maltais, and New York countering with top line Fillier, Carpenter, and Paetyn Levis.
Both teams had extended stretches of offense and the physicality continued after the whistle in many cases.
New York’s Taylor Baker took a penalty midway through the first, and the Sceptres pressed for the opening goal. However, once the four penalty killers who were kept on the ice by the new “No Escape” rule went to the bench, Fillier went out on the Sirens’ shorthanded shift, grabbed the puck and streaked towards Kristen Campbell. Campbell got a piece of the shot but it found the back of the net to give the #1 overall pick her first goal in the PWHL, and the early lead to the Sirens.
Two more power plays ensued for the Sceptres, but they were unable to capitalize. The shots after the first were 12-11 for Toronto.
In the second, Noora Tulus scored her first of the preseason with a wrist shot from the top of the circle to make it 2-0. The physical play led to some sloppy turnovers, and when Toronto’s Laura Kluge went off for tripping, it was Fillier again with a screened shot that beat Campbell and put New York up 3-0.
Rookie goaltender Kayle Osborne left the game midway through the second with a shutout and 16 saves for her first showing. Abbey Levy took over for the Sirens.
Kayla Vespa tipped in a Jamie Bourbonnnais shot at 12:30 to increase the lead before the Sceptres finally got on the board two minutes later when captain Blayre Turnbull scored from the slot. Shortly afterward, the scrappy play, collisions, and penalty calls continued. New York’s Elle Hartje was called for roughing for a hard hit on Olivia Knowles.
Victoria Bach slammed home a Flanagan rebound on the ensuing power play to bring the Sceptres within two.
After two, the Sceptres led the shots 25-22.
The third period was marked by missed passes on both sides, loose play, and another Fillier goal, to give her the hat trick. Carpenter found her linemate with a short pass to send her in alone and Fillier quickly wristed it into the top of the net.
Toronto’s coach Troy Ryan said after the game, “I think we all know that we will be better. A lot of it still is player evaluation and the group can be better. I think we know that for sure. So we'll go to work this week and we'll be much better in one week's time.”
Neither team scored in the three-minute overtime, although Fillier had a shot trickle across the crossbar. In the shootout, New York’s Abby Roque, Tulus, and Fillier were successful, while Toronto’s Izzy Daniel and Noemi Neubauerova scored.
Toronto opens its season on Nov. 30 at home against Boston, while New York visits Minnesota to start their season on Dec. 1.