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The Toronto Sceptres secured a 4-2 victory against the Ottawa Charge on Tuesday night at TD Place. Both Sarah Nurse and Maggie Connors scored for the team on the night in front of a crowd of 6,526 fans.
Ottawa opened the scoring on its third shot during a power play when Toronto’s Allie Munroe lost the puck, allowing Charge forward Victoria Bach to set up Manon McMahon, who scored her second goal of the season.
Toronto responded six minutes later as a point shot by former Ottawa player Daryl Watts deflected into the air, and Sarah Nurse cleverly redirected it, allowing Hannah Miller to tap the puck into the open net. In the second period, Maggie Connors capitalized on a defensive turnover and fired a wrist shot from the high slot, beating a screened Emerance Maschmeyer on the stick side.
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PWHL Toronto's official Instagram handle shared a special post with a clip of Connors’ goal.
“WHAT A WAY TO SCORE YOUR FIRST OF THE SEASON 😮💨”, read the caption.
Following the game, Sarah Nurse took to her Instagram to appreciate Connors on her first goal of the season. She shared the Sceptres post on her story and wrote:
“Girl went crazy🚨🚨🚨.”
Less than five minutes after Connors’ goal, Ottawa registered its second score on the night. From a scrum behind the net, the puck ricocheted off the skate of Toronto’s goalie Kristen Campbell and into the net. Victoria Bach was credited with the goal, bringing the score to 2-2.
The final period saw the Sceptres pull ahead for good. With just under nine minutes remaining, Blayre Turnbull scored after Ottawa’s Ronja Savolainen lost control of the puck in the defensive zone. As Ottawa pushed for an equalizer, it pulled Maschmeyer for an extra attacker, but Toronto’s Emma Maltais scored on the empty net with less than two minutes left, sealing the 4-2 victory.
Maggie Connors claims she is trying to ‘own’ her role on the team
Maggie Connors has had a slow start to life in Toronto. While she has only registered her first point of the season, Connors is focusing on helping her team by all means possible.
Following the game, the Sceptres forward was asked to reflect on her year with Toronto. In response, she said:
“It’s been a year where I think I’m just really trying to own my role. Obviously, in general what we’re trying to do is win, so any way I can help the team win – whether that’s being an energy player, bring the offence in a different line, anything like that is what I’m hoping to do.”
Sceptres coach Troy Ryan lauded the team’s performance after the matchup, noting that the players were rewarded for their efforts. He acknowledged that the game was a full 60 minutes of the entire roster playing the right way. Toronto will next face off against the Boston Fleet on Jan. 22.
