ANALYSIS – The Toronto Sceptres powerplay was clinical as it resulted in two of Toronto’s three goals. That was not the only positive though as Kristen Campbell had a fantastic performance, holding Boston to only one goal at the Coca-Cola Coliseum
Toronto Sceptres Powerplay Was Exceptional
Toronto Sceptres Powerplay Was Top-Notch
The big reason why the Sceptres won this game was because of the powerplay. They were clinical when they had them and punished Boston ruthlessly on two occasions.
- The first goal scored by Emma Maltais was done by keeping the pressure, as Jesse Compher found her and delivered the pass to Maltais.
- The third goal and second powerplay goal overall were scored by the Sceptres as Maltais delivered a pass to Compher for the powerplay goal.
With the first goal, the Sceptres were trying to get any shot near the net and look for a rebound. This is while with the third goal, the Toronto Sceptres already had momentum with how well they were playing. They put a lot of pressure on Boston Fleet’s goaltender, Aerin Frankel, who could not stop the shot from Compher.
This was also not the only reason why the Sceptres played well offensively. It was also because of the way they put themselves in good positions to score.
Toronto Sceptres Put Themselves in Good Positions to Score
The Sceptres had shown an ability to put themselves in great positions to score. The most obvious one was the second Sceptres goal scored by Emma Woods, where she put herself in a good position to score. So, when she got the pass from Jesse Compher, she capitalized.
- Natalie Spooner has put herself in good positions to score many times during the game.
- The Sceptres Blayre Turnbull also put herself in a good position to score.
They did not score a goal every time. However, they did keep trying to find many ways to score, as Boston’s goaltender was hard to beat on Friday night.
Toronto Sceptres Goaltender, Kristen Campbell Stepped Up
Campbell had a very good game today. She was able to stop 16 of the 17 shots and made sure Boston did not take the lead after Megan Keller scored the game-tying goal.
- Theresa Schafzahl’s shot from very close range was stopped by Campbell.
- Campbell and Toronto’s defence made sure Boston did not score a second goal when they had momentum in the second period.
Yes, Campbell was not very busy for parts of the game, but it does not take away what a fantastic job she did in the net for the Sceptres.
Other Factors: Boston Fleet’s Aerin Frankel Played Well
The Boston Fleet’s second and third lines seemed to be the lines that gave Toronto the most trouble. Also, Sydney Bard played very well for Boston blocking some of the Sceptres’ shots in the third period.
READ MORE: Aerin Frankel Made More Than 30 Saves in Boston Fleet Win
There is also, of course, Frankel. The American goaltender made it hard for Toronto to score, with the shot stopped above being just one of those moments. She also played a big role in Boston’s only win against Toronto in the 2024-25 PWHL season and will be a player to watch out for.
What This Result Means for Both Teams
For the Boston Fleet, it is an opportunity missed. Before the game began, the Fleet was one point behind the Sceptres with two games in hand. Now, Boston still has those games in hand but is now four points away from the Sceptres. They are also tied with the New York Sirens in terms of points with 20 points each.
This is while the Sceptres needed to win this game. The Boston Fleet has two games in hand over the Toronto Sceptres. Also, the Ottawa Charge and the New York Sirens also have 20 points and have both played one less game than the Sceptres. A win on Friday night meant that the Sceptres gave themselves a better chance to secure a playoff spot. This will be especially important when teams such as the Fleet and the Sirens begin to play more games.
In addition to that, the Sceptres are only two points behind the Minnesota Frost, as the Frost has been struggling as of late. This is while the Sceptres have now accumulated eight of the possible nine points in their last three games as they are now on a three-game winning streak.
READ MORE: The Toronto Sceptres Logo, Venue, and History
What Is Coming Up For Both Teams
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First, looking at the Boston Fleet, they will host one game before travelling to the road. They will start off by facing the Minnesota Frost at 1:00pm EST at the Tsongas Center. They will then go on the road against the New York Sirens at the Prudential Center at 4:00pm EST on July 17 and against the Ottawa Charge at TD Place Arena on July 20 at 7:00pm EST.
The games for the Fleet-Sirens game will be shown live on MSG. This is while the Frost game will be shown live on FanDuel. Also, all three of the upcoming games will be shown live on TSN and NESN.
READ MORE: Sarah Nurse: Toronto Sceptres’ Star Player
This is while the Sceptres will play a memorable game in a PWHL neutral site game on July 16 against the Ottawa Charge at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. They will then face the New York Sirens on July 19 at 7:00pm EST at the Prudential Center.
The game between the Sceptres-Sirens will be shown on MSG while both the games against the Charge and the Sirens will be televised live on TSN. It will be unfortunate that Nurse will not get to play in the game against Ottawa, as her cousin, Darnell Nurse, currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers, but it should be a noteworthy game with an expected sellout, which was also seen in Quebec City and Vancouver.
Photo Credit: Toronto Sceptres X Account on February 15, 2025.
