Toronto dropped another crucial point in the PWHL standings losing their fourth game of the season in extra time or a shootout. Here's a look from Curtis Martin at what continues to cost the Sceptres.
Toronto dropped another crucial point in the PWHL standings losing their fourth game of the season in extra time or a shootout. Here's a look from Curtis Martin at what continues to cost the Sceptres.
The Toronto Sceptres could not find the finishing touches once again as they lost to the Montreal Victoire 4-3 in a shootout.
Here are three takeaways on the disappointing loss.
Mental Errors Prove Costly
In the end mental lapses on behalf of the Sceptres that the Victoire were able to take advantage of cost Toronto.
On Montreal’s first period goal, all four skaters in the defensive zone were caught puck watching leaving Mariah Keopple wide open to tap in a rebound.
In the second period, Laura Stacey was able to catch Savannah Harmon off guard, as she muscled the puck from Harmon and fed a pass to a wide open Maureen Murphy in the slot giving the Victoire their first lead of the game.
Overall, Toronto played well defensively, limiting the Victoire's opportunities, but when you make small mistakes against a talented veteran team they will make you pay.
OT Losses Starting To Add Up
The Toronto Sceptres need to find a way to earn those extra points if they want to have a shot at the playoffs and so far this year they simply haven’t been able to get it done.
The Sceptres have yet to win a game in extra time this season as they have lost all four of their games that have gone to overtime or a shootout. That includes their back-to-back shootout losses in Minnesota on Tuesday and in Laval last night.
“Where we are in the standings and where we are as a group, to take that point in Minnesota and to take one here on the road against Montreal is not something we are satisfied with,” said Troy Ryan. “ We are not satisfied but we will take the points right now.”
In total, Toronto has given up four points in the standings, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but would put them in third place, not fifth.
Reaching the halfway mark of the season, this team running out of runway...fast.
Power Play Continues To Find Success
The Sceptres found success on the power play once again tonight, scoring two of their three goals with the extra skater.
Jesse Compher, who is on a four game point streak, opened the scoring by tucking a puck past Elaine Chuli’s pad on the power play to give them the early lead.
The power play continued to find success in second period as Hannah Miller showed off her powerful shot, blasting it past Chuli to tie the game at two.
Even when Toronto didn’t score, the group consistently created dangerous looks and carried the momentum of their power play to even strength.