Toronto Sceptres Stymie Montreal Victoire As Playoff Race Tightens

The Montreal Victoire returned to Place Bell in Laval, Que. for the first time in 19 days, hoping to clinch a spot in the PWHL playoffs with a regulation win. The Toronto Sceptres, however, foiled the home team’s efforts with a 2-1 win.

“The team did exactly what we asked them to do,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “We out shot them 33 to 20, [...] we need to be able to put those pucks in the back of the net, but in terms of where the puck is going, where the bodies are going, we just need to continue on the path we’re going on.”

It was a strong return performance from Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse, who saw her first on-ice action since being placed on long-term injury reserve after enduring a lower-body injury in the Rivalry Series back on Feb. 6. The forward from Hamilton, Ont. assisted on a goal to linemate Natalie Spooner in the second period. Jesse Compher scored the other goal for Toronto, while Marie-Philip Poulin scored Montreal's sole goal and her 15th marker on the year.

“I hope I didn’t stick out as much as I thought I did,” Nurse joked post-game. It’s nice to come to a group that’s so supportive and has supported me throughout the entire (return) process here, and to come back as we’re heading into the last couple of games this season is definitely a good runway.”

Montreal dealt with an injury situation on the other side of the ice. With starting Victoire netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens placed on LTIR following an injury in the last game against the Boston Fleet, second-string goaltender Elaine Chuli was thrust into action. Chuli made 18 saves on 20 shots in the loss, and her season record fell to 3-4-0 on the year.

Cheverie said that there was no update on Desbiens’ status, and that it is unlikely the goaltender will travel with the team to Minnesota.

In the other crease was Kristen Campbell. Her performance simply stole the show and the game away from Montreal. The netminder stopped 32 of her 33 shots faced, landing her the first star of the game honours. Her record on the year improves to 8-6-2-0, with a .918 save percentage and a 2.09 goals against. She has surrendered just four goals in four games in March. 

“Montreal did a really good job of just getting pucks into the blue paint and creating a bit of a scramble,” said Toronto head coach Troy Ryan. “[Campbell] looked really engaged and did a really good job trying to find pucks.”

Victoire forward Kaitlin Willoughby was traded to Montreal at the trade deadline for now Toronto Sceptres blueliner Anna Kjellbin. Kjellbin spoke on returning to Montreal.

“I thought it was going to be weird,” admitted Kjellbin. “[The team] just wanted me to do the first shift, just to get into it, and then get into your hockey bubble and you don’t really think about it, to be honest. It’s just a normal hockey game.”

Montreal will now head back on the road to Minnesota. The Victoire will take on the Frost on Wednesday, March 26 at Xcel Energy Center. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. CDT.