A pair of Minnesota defenders notched their first of the season, but a two-goal performance from Sarah Nurse lifted PWHL Toronto to a 4-3 overtime victory at 3M Arena at Mariucci Tuesday night.
A pair of Minnesota defenders notched their first of the season, but a two-goal performance from Sarah Nurse lifted PWHL Toronto to a 4-3 overtime victory at 3M Arena at Mariucci Tuesday night.
After going six straight games without recording more than two goals, Minnesota's offense broke through thanks to an offensive eruption from their blue line. Toronto, however, indisputably the hottest team in the PWHL, snuck four past Nicole Hensley for the second time this season and left the State of Hockey with two points.
Toronto's captain got the scoring going under six minutes into the game. After a nice give-and-go with Emma Maltais, Blayre Turnbull sidestepped around Mellissa Channell in the slot and squeaked the puck by Hensley.
However, Toronto's 1-0 lead wouldn't last.
Sophie Jaques weaved through bodies in Toronto’s right corner and fed Kelly Pannek behind the net. The forward skated to Campbell's left side and sent a cross-crease pass towards Jaques. Despite the puck taking a bounce in front, the rubber biscuit made its way to the Toronto native.
Jaques' backhander beat Campbell, tying the game at one apiece and giving the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner her first goal of the season. With an assist on the play, Pannek moved into a three-way tie for first in stat with Alina Müller and Tereza Vanišová.
The contest remained knotted at one entering the first intermission, with Toronto leading the back-and-forth game in shots 10-6.
Lee Stecklein took a hooking penalty 42 seconds into the middle frame. On the ensuing opportunity, Toronto managed to capitalize with Minnesota's top defender in the box.
Kali Flanagan rifled a one-timer from the point off a pass from Jocelyne Larocque, and the shot beat Hensley clean. Flanagan's second of the season restored Toronto's one-goal lead early into the period, but just like their 1-0 lead in the first, their time on top wouldn't last long.
Natalie Buchbinder's wrist shot from the point found its way past Campbell halfway through the second, tying the game at two.
Nine seconds after Buchbinder's equalizer, Brittyn Fleming went to the box for hooking. Minnesota killed off Toronto's second power play of the game and got a player advantage of their own late in the period.
Toronto's league-leading penalty kill held off Minnesota's attack, keeping the game tied entering the second intermission.
Despite Minnesota controlling most of the play and getting most of the chances in the third period, Toronto's Sarah Nurse would break the deadlock with 5 minutes remaining.
Renata Fast stifled Minnesota's clearing attempt, walked the blue line, and sent a shot on the net. Her shot generated a rebound, and Nurse banged in the puck at the side of the net, giving her team the lead with mere minutes remaining.
With their goalie pulled and pressure mounting, Minnesota broke through with their third of the game. Jaques walked into a slap shot from the point and blasted the puck past Campbell for her second of the game with 21.1 seconds to go.
The clock trickled down, with neither team finding some last-second magic, meaning the contest needed overtime to determine a winner.
Larocque got the puck in Minnesota's offensive zone with 1:30 remaining in the extra frame, and the trio of her, Maltais, and Nurse began cycling the puck.
After seconds of cycling and creating space, Larocque fed Nurse a one-timer at the right hashmarks. Nurse's shot deflected off of Jaques and slipped past Hensley, giving Toronto their sixth win in a row and bringing them within one point of Minnesota for second in the PWHL.
An Offensive Breakthrough
While the loss hurts, and losing three straight games is never something to celebrate, Minnesota finally scoring three goals is one of the few positives stemming from Tuesday's loss to Toronto.
The last time Minnesota scored three goals in a game was Jan. 27, which ironically was also a 4-3 overtime loss. However, that game was against Boston.
It's no secret Minnesota's offense is finding it hard to finish with Taylor Heise on LTIR and Liz Schepers injured as well. Fortunately, with Jaques adding a new dynamic to Minnesota's offense in each passing game, Pannek, Grace Zumwinkle, and Kendall Coyne Schofield continuing to look lethal, and different depth players having quality showings game-in and game-out, the team should be able to weather the storm despite their recent struggles.
Toronto Has Hensley's Number
Hensley's had four games with one goal against, three with two against, and two where four shots beat her. While the overall picture paints an incredible season thus far, both of those four-goal games come at the hands of PWHL Toronto.
For a goalie seemingly as unbeatable as Hensley, Toronto appears to have her number. Toronto's markers on Tuesday aren’t inherently Hensley's fault, which is saying something since scoring four is rare in the PWHL. Either way, two four-spots on one of the best goalies in the PWHL is an impressive feat for the red-hot squad.
While there is no reason to worry about Hensley's play, given she's been borderline perfect in every other contest she's played, how Minnesota responds in their fourth and final matchup against Toronto on May 1 is something to keep an eye on.
Minnesota looks to end their three-game skid on Sunday when they visit UBS Arena to square off against PWHL New York. Puck drop is at 11:30 a.m. CT, 12:30 p.m. ET.