Toronto extends streak to nine
Kristen Campbell earned a 23-save shutout as Toronto extended its winning streak to nine games and took over first place in the Professional Women’s Hockey League with a 3-0 victory over Montreal on Friday.
It was Campbell’s league-leading third shutout, and her second against Montreal.
Hannah Miller, Rebecca Leslie and Emma Maltais, with an emptynetter, scored for Toronto, which has beaten Montreal in all three meetings.
Elaine Chuli, the former Toronto Six netminder, stopped 30 shots for Montreal.
Miller opened the scoring just 1:20 into the first period. Natalie Spooner attempted a wraparound shot that was stopped, but Miller cleaned up in front with Chuli out of position.
Laura Stacey almost tied it when she tried to bury a rebound off a Marie-Philip Poulin shot at 8:48. Campbell stopped it but couldn’t hold the puck and a Toronto defender tried to halt its momentum with a glove before it ultimately was out of danger.
Things got heated near the midway mark of the second period.
A big scuffle broke out after Leslie was checked into the boards in front of Montreal’s bench with the door open for a line change.
Punches were thrown across three separate skirmishes, with six players being sent to the penalty box for roughing — Leslie, Brittany Howard and Alexa Vasko for Toronto; Sarah Bujold, Sarah Lefort and Catherine Dubois for Montreal.
Less than two minutes later, Sarah Nurse rushed in toward the net but was driven straight into it — taking the goal out of place — by Tereza Vanisova as she tried to get a shot off.
Another scuffle broke out but Vanisova was the only one penalized, going off for hooking.
Montreal’s Mélodie Daoust had a breakaway opportunity with 10 seconds left in the middle frame but Campbell turned her away.
Leslie doubled Toronto’s lead with her first of the season 3:47 into the third period. She tipped in a point shot by Olivia Knowles.
Montreal pulled Chuli with 3:22 remaining for an extra attacker, and Maltais scored into the empty net with 1:06 left.