Natalie Spooner recorded a point in her season debut after returning from ACL surgery, and Renata Fast scored the overtime winner for the Toronto Sceptres.

The big story on Tuesday night was the return to play of PWHL MVP and last year’s leading scorer, Natalie Spooner. Coca-Cola Coliseum was buzzing with anticipation of the first game of the second half of the season and with the excitement of welcoming back their star forward. Unfortunately, with her return, another player went onto the LTIR after the Rivalry Series, first-line center Sarah Nurse.

Coming out of the international break, both teams looked a little disconnected. The players who had traveled to games might have felt some fatigue, while the others might have been shaking off some rust. But the play didn’t flow in either direction for the first period. It was Minnesota’s first shot on goal, a two-on-one with Sophie Jaques and Michela Cava at 1:23 who skated in on Rylind MacKinnon and executed perfectly, with Cava’s saucer pass going right to Jaques’ tape who roofed it over goalie Raygan Kirk.

Natalie Spooner did all the things we’ve come to expect from her, including hitting a crossbar from a close-in chance, and then just missing over the net on a power play after a pass from behind by Daryl Watts.

Toronto’s lines were juggled, of course, with the injury to Nurse, so Hannah Miller took center on the first line with wingers Spooner and Watts. It didn’t look like chemistry was happening until they did get those power play opportunities.

Spooner was noticeable all game and injected some much-needed physical grit and net-front presence.

After the game she said,“It was awesome. I mean, [it was] definitely an adjustment and I think it will take a few games to get really back feeling like myself; but just to get out there with [my teammates] to get that win felt really good. So excited for the next one now!”

Minnesota, meanwhile, welcomed back two of their own injured players: Grace Zumwinkle, a significant addition to the top six, and rookie Dominique Petrie, who has been a pleasant surprise.

Neither goalie was tested in the first, and Toronto ended up with a slight edge in shots, 5-3.

In the second period, the game was more wide open and offered chances for both teams, but goalies Maddie Rooney for the Frost and Raygan Kirk for the Sceptres were up to the task. Toronto looked poised to tie the game, but instead, Brooke McQuigge took advantage of a chance to skate on alone on Kirk and scored five-hole to make it 2-0.

The second period has been the best for the Sceptres all season, though, and when Hannah Miller broke through at 12:00 with a rebound, it signaled a shift. It also earned Spooner her first point of the season (an assist).

Shortly afterwards, Toronto’s top-ranked power play evened the score when Daryl Watts walked in to a wide open slot area, shot and then buried her own rebound.

Shots after two were 15-8 for Toronto.

However, it was Minnesota’s turn to grab momentum as the third moved along, and they did just that, holding the home team to only three shots while they fired 15 att Kirk. The rookie netminder had one of her best games of the season to keep the Frost off the board in that lopsided frame.

Both teams seemed satisfied with one point and the chance for a second, but some very sloppy play by the Sceptres nearly handed the extra point to Minnesota, especially when Daryl Watts was caught out for an almost two-minute shift in overtime. When Toronto’s fresh bodies arrived, one of them was Renata Fast, who has been a bright spot all season. She blocked an attempted pass and took off on a breakaway. Her forehand-backhand move found the back of the net and delivered two important points for Toronto.

Sceptres’ coach Troy Ryan said, “I think that’s what’s special about getting a win like that. You can find different ways to win and our group just found a way to stick with it. I think that’s one of the ones that when I look back at the end of this year, I’m going to be proud of just because you’re finding a way to get it done.”