By Gabi Grande
The Toronto Sceptres defeated the Boston Fleet 3-1 at a sold-out Coca-Cola Coliseum Friday night, grabbing their third straight win.
The usual sea of blue and white jerseys had sprinkles of red and pink as fans donned their Valentine’s Day best. This is the second year in a row the Sceptres and Fleet have played each other on love’s greatest day, yet there was anything but affection on the ice.
After one of the more electric Canadian national anthems at a Sceptres game, the home team seized the momentum as soon as the puck dropped.
It took 22 seconds for Sceptres forward Jesse Compher to capitalize on a careless giveaway from Boston to get the game’s first shot. From there, their offence blossomed.
“We really want to focus on what makes us successful,” said Sceptres’ head coach Troy Ryan. “We just keep playing better and taking care of our own business [and] you’ll see us continue to climb in those standings.”
After getting stuck in their end, Fleet centre Shay Maloney was penalized for two minutes for tripping Sceptres forward Izzy Daniel.
The ensuing powerplay saw a masterclass of puck possession from the Sceptres and with their advantage dwindling down, they played keep-away from a scrambling Fleet defence. After Compher won a gritty puck battle in the corner, she passed to an open Emma Maltais behind the goal line. With a swift twist of her hips, Maltais moved quickly to the front of the net and shoveled the puck past Fleet goalie Aerin Frankel.
The play was under review to determine if the puck completely crossed the line but was ultimately ruled a good goal.
The ice breaker proved motivating for the home team, with extended pressure in the Fleet zone resulting in the visiting team icing the puck numerous times in a row. When Boston finally cleared their end, Maltais immediately re-entered the zone with Daniel quickly trailing behind her.
A slick saucer pass from Maltais met a wide open Daniel in front of the net but was ultimately too hot to handle. Nevertheless, the Sceptres were in control at the end of the first with a 1-0 lead.
“We want our standards to be our standards,” said Ryan. “We’re not even looking at other teams on what they’re doing to be successful.”
The second period saw the Fleet quickly flip the momentum of the game.
After a last-second toe save from Frankel on Sceptres’ forward Emma Woods, the home team were caught on their heels in their own end. Relentless pressure from the Fleet proved worthwhile. Center Hannah Brandt stopped a sloppy clearing attempt on the half boards and made an immediate pass to defender Megan Keller, who ripped a snapshot from the top of the circle into the back of the net. Campbell had no chance on that play, but was a force for the Sceptres, stopping the rest of the 17 shots she faced in the game.
“It was a great team win,” said netminder Kristen Campbell. “I honestly haven’t been happy with my play this season and I think just keeping it simple and doing what I needed to do back there help[ed] us get a win.”
With Toronto still reeling from the tying goal, tensions were high for both teams.
Net-front scrums bubbled over when Sceptres forward Hannah Miller slashed the stick out of Fleet defender Sydney Bard. Both players exchanged pleasantries and were assessed two minute minors for roughing.
With the last minute of the second period dubbed “Score a Slice”—a Pizza Pizza promotion where each audience member receives a free slice of pizza if the Sceptres score in the last minute of the frame—the home side put their feet on the gas once again.
Daniel deked around her defenders and found a wide open Woods in front of the net. The 29-year-old made no mistake and buried her third of the season, and the first successful “Score a Slice” for the Sceptres this season.
“Yeah, it was a great pass from Izzy [Daniel],” said Emma Woods. “Somehow I ended up alone in the slot so I’m glad I buried it.”
The third period picked up where the second left off—with Toronto dominating the game.
Sceptres’ captain Blayre Turnbull chose to lead by example in her defensive end with active sticks and finishing her checks. The 31-year-old N.S. native blocked a potential one-timer from recent Fleet acquisition Jill Saulnier and swiftly cleared her own end.
Both teams exchanged momentum-swinging looks all period.
After Bard’s wrist shot from the point narrowly missed the wide open net, the Sceptres quickly broke out of their zone and attacked the Fleet’s house. Sceptres’ forward Natalie Spooner made a swift cross-rink pass to linemate Daryl Watts, who drove the net but was poke checked by Frankel at the last second.
After Fleet forward Sophie Shirley was penalized for tripping, the Sceptres proved why they had the top power play in the league.
Puck possession and player movement were at the forefront of their dominance, only letting the Fleet touch the puck a handful of times.
Following Maltais’ crisp tape-to-tape pass to Turnball, the captain faked a shot and slap passed to a wide open Compher, who buried her sixth of the season and third Toronto goal of the night.
“You need to just get out of the building stealing three points and be happy with it,” said Ryan. “You need to be happy with it and continue trying to increase [y]our day-to-day performance.”
The Toronto Sceptres are now one regulation win away from piggybacking the Minnesota Frost for second place.
“Even through the stretch where we maybe weren't getting the wins, there was a belief in the locker room that we were trending in the right direction,” said Woods. “Now, it’s starting to trend our way.”
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