Toronto Sceptres open PWHL season with 3-1 comeback win over Boston Fleet
Toronto Sceptres' Jocelyne Larocque (3) battles against Boston Fleet's Hannah Bilka (19) for control of the puck during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
TORONTO — Hannah Miller scored a power-play goal with 1:38 remaining in the game, lifting the Toronto Sceptres to a 3-1 victory over the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women’s Hockey League season opener on Saturday.
With Boston standout Hilary Knight in the penalty box for a vicious boarding penalty on Sceptres defender Renata Fast, Miller made good on her rebound attempt on a shot by Daryl Watts with a half-open net.
Fast recovered for an assist on the winner before 8,089 fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Fleet challenged the goal, but video review deemed Miller’s shot was good.
Sarah Nurse got Toronto on the board with a short-handed tally 11:50 into the first period and Emma Maltais added an empty-net strike with 12 seconds left.
Boston’s Hilary Knight opened the scoring 3 minutes in, sending a slap shot past Toronto goalie Kristen Campbell, who registered 18 stops on the night.
Toronto outshot Boston 41-19. Boston goalie Aerin Frankel, a big reason why her team advanced to the Walter Cup final last spring, had 38 saves.
Takeaways
Sceptres: Billie Jean King MVP Natalie Spooner missed the season opener. The PWHL scoring champion underwent left knee surgery in June after getting injured in Game 3 of Toronto’s first-round series against Minnesota.
Toronto Sceptres goalie Kristen Campbell (50) makes save as Boston Fleet's Susanna Tapani (77) looks for a rebound during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
Fleet: Defender Emma Greco played her first game for Boston. She was part of the Walter Cup-winning Minnesota team that defeated Boston in a three-game series last spring.
Key moment
With the game tied 1-1, the Sceptres failed to score during a 59-second 5-on-3 advantage midway through the second period. Boston blocked five shots during the span.
Key stat
Last year, Toronto enjoyed an 11-game win streak en route to its regular-season championship, including three wins against Boston.
Up next
Boston will play its home opener on Wednesday, a rematch with the Walter Cup-champion Minnesota. Toronto visits Ottawa on Tuesday.
