Natalie Spooner has 2 points, leads Toronto to a 5-2 win over Ottawa
Toronto's Kristen Campbell (50) celebrates with Jocelyne Larocque (3) after their win over Ottawa during third-period PWHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 2, 2024. Credit: AP/Justin Tang
OTTAWA, Ontario — Natalie Spooner had a goal and an assist to lead Toronto to a 5-2 win over Ottawa on Saturday.
Brittany Howard, Hannah Miller, Samantha Cogan and Maggie Connors also scored for Toronto, winners of seven straight.
Renata Fast, Sarah Nurse and Victoria Bach had two assists each while Kristen Campbell made 23 saves, including a breakaway stop on Emily Clark early in the third period.
Gabbie Hughes and Ashton Bell scored for Ottawa.
Emerance Maschmeyer started in goal for Ottawa but was replaced by Sandra Abstreiter in the second period after allowing three goals on 13 shots. Abstreiter turned aside nine of the 10 shots she faced.
In a very physical first period, Toronto opened the scoring as Spooner collected a loose puck in the slot and beat Maschmeyer through the legs for a power-play goal at 12:53.
Toronto nearly took a 2-0 lead minutes later but a sprawled out Maschmeyer got her glove on a shot from Jesse Compher.
Toronto's Renata Fast (14) is knocked off her skates after crashing into the boards with Ottawa's Daryl Watts (9) during second-period PWHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, March 2, 2024. Credit: AP/Justin Tang
Toronto came out flying to start the second period and scored three goals in under 2 1/2 minutes.
Bach gave Toronto a 2-0 lead with a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that beat Maschmeyer far side at 2:46. Miller then scored on a rebound at 4:43.
Things started poorly for Abstreiter as she allowed a goal to Cogan on the first shot she faced at 5:14. She settled in after that, stopping Connors on a breakaway moments later.
Ottawa finally broke through when Hughes got the last touch on the puck after a scramble in front of the Toronto goal. She pushed it just over the goal line at 11:16.
Toronto's Sarah Nurse (20) plays from her knees to keep Ottawa's Lexie Adzija (88) from getting the puck, during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Credit: AP/Justin Tang
At 5:49 of the third period, Bell got a backhand shot past Campbell to pull Ottawa within a pair. Connors secured the win with an empty-net goal at 18:27.
UP NEXT
Toronto: Hosts Boston on Wednesday.
Ottawa: At Minnesota on Tuesday.
