Gosling leads the way as Sceptres take game one over Frost
- Eli Silverstone
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
By Eli Silverstone
The Toronto Sceptres defeated the Minnesota Frost 3-2 in game one of the PWHL Playoffs at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Wednesday night, taking a 1-0 series lead.
A year after blowing a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-five PWHL Semifinals to the same Minnesota organization, the Sceptres aimed to enact revenge. Desperate to forget the dreadful feeling that Toronto hockey fans know all too well, the Sceptres wanted to get off to a hot start in game 1.
Who else to set the tone but the captain, Blayre Turnbull who picked up a puck by the side of the net and patiently waited out Frost goaltender Nicole Hensley, making her slide across her crease before sliding the puck under her outstretched arm.
“What a goal for Blayre to have, that’s what captains do and that's what leaders do” said Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan.
The ice continued to tilt in Toronto’s favour in the second period as Julia Gosling found herself alone in the slot off of a rebound and deposited the Sceptres second goal of the game. It was the London, Ont., product’s first non-power play goal of her 30-game rookie season, and she didn’t stop there.
Two minutes later, Gosling got right back into her comfort zone on the power play and buried her second goal of the game and fifth power play goal of the season to give the Sceptres the 3-2 lead.
“It was really exciting. The way we were playing and the way our lines were changing just put me in a great spot to get that opportunity and then just use my shot,” said the 24-year-old.
Minnesota wasn't going to go down easy in the second half of the game, as a goal by Britta Curl-Salemme on the powerplay brought a bit of a damper on the party and the score to 3-1.
However, Curl-Salemme then got caught going too far, as to kill the momentum she just created, she caught Sceptres defender Renata Fast with a high hit to the head. Curl-Salemme was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, sending the Sceptres to the powerplay for the rest of the second period.
WIth just the second goal of her PWHL career, Frost forward Katy Knoll dropped the Sceptres lead down to 3-2 and brought a tension over the arena. There was still 17 minutes left in the period and the Frost were applying pressure, but Sceptres goaltender Kristen Campbell decided two goals were all she would allow and Toronto emerged from the win.
“There was a moment in the game as they were kind of pressing at the end, where I was like, you can live with whatever results of the game. You obviously want to win but I was so happy and proud of the way our team played,” said Ryan.
Three takeaways from the Sceptres game 1 win
Great start, but shades of 2024.
As much as Troy Ryan has stressed they aren't talking about last year, and the roster has seen its changes, the blown series to Minnesota will be a looming storyline, until it’s not.
“I felt that our season last year was completely different than this year. Last year, things felt very easy throughout the whole season. This year we had more highs and lows and more adversity to fight through,” said Turnbull. “Last year's playoffs, I think being the first place team, we didnt think it would be easy but when we got up 2-0 in the back of our minds we probably thought we had that series in the bag.”
Going up 3-0 in the second period and then seeing the lead quickly evaporate back down to 3-2 had fans worried about another crushing loss to Minnesota. But Toronto’s ability to not let it affect them and continue to close out the game bodes well for them making everyone forget about 2024.
“The confidence we have as a team, it didn't really affect us getting scored against, we just kept going to our game plan,” said Gosling.
Britta Curl-Salemme’s game misconduct continues a poor trend for her
As Sceptres defender Renata Fast pinched to try and keep the puck in the Frost’s zone late in the second period, Curl-Salemme came up and caught Fast with an elbow to the head. After the refs reviewed the play, they handed Curl-Salemme a game misconduct and she now may be facing suspension that would keep her out of playoff games.
If suspended, it would be Curl-Salemme’s third suspension in her rookie season. She caught Sceptres defender Megan Carter with an elbow earlier in the season and faced discipline for a dangerous high stick against the Boston Fleet.
“I thought it was a pretty ugly hit, and I think the refs made the right call,” said Turnbull.
Curl-Salemme racked up 10 goals in 29 games this season and her presence would be missed for Minnesota if she indeed faces suspension.
Toronto’s league best power play will be key for series win.
The Sceptres ranked first in the PWHL with 24 power play goals, and dead last in even strength goals at 47. Game one’s special teams showing was strong—the Sceptres went one for three—and although they didn’t score on Curl-Salemme’s five minute major, that was more of a reflection of Hensley’s strong goaltending.
“The power play was on fire for a better part of the year, and kind of went stale lately, but they’re still playing the right way,” said Ryan.
UP NEXT: Game two between Toronto and Minnesota is set for Friday May 9 at Coca Cola Coliseum. Puck drops at 7 pm.
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