April 20, 2024
Sarah Nurse scores thirteen seconds into overtime as Toronto beats Montreal
Sarah Nurse is undoubtedly one of the greatest players Women’s hockey has ever seen, and this afternoon she cemented her teams spot atop the PWHL standings.
The success the PWHL has achieved this season is nothing short of incredible – as the league again set an attendance record today, as Toronto traveled to Montreal for a match at the Bell Center. When it comes to hockey, there are no two cities on earth as big as these two, which makes it only fitting that they should square off in the biggest hockey arena in North America, the Bell Center.
See Also: Kristin O’Neill powers Montreal to comeback win over Minnesota
A sold-out crowd of 21, 105 turned up for the afternoon game, eclipsing the previous record of 19,285 that was set in at Toronto’s Scotia Bank in February and featured these same two teams. Not only is women’s hockey doing well, it is selling out NHL level arenas, too. It has been a while since the Bell Center saw an attendance this high.
Not only was this a PWHL record, but a Women’s hockey record – and one that has slim chances of being usurped. There is only one arena bigger than the Bell Centre in the world, that being the SKA arena in Russia. So, in order for the PWHL to beat this new record, they would either need to host a game in Russia – or host an outdoor game.
The PWHL crowds surpassed previous records for women’s hockey including the 18,013 who attended the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championship for a preliminary round game between Canada and Finland in Ottawa, and the Olympic Games record of 16,805 set in Vancouver in 2010.
Fitting too, that this was a game that could prove pivotal in the final regular season standings, as top-seeded Toronto sat just two points ahead of Montreal, who themselves were just a single point behind Minnesota. A regulation time win for Montreal would give them the top seed going into the playoffs. PWHL rules state that the top seeded team at the end of the regular season picks their opponent for the first round of the playoffs.
Should the the top team be either Montreal or Toronto – it is doubtful that either team selects the other for a first round dance. More likely, is this is the match-up we will see in the cup final.
Sarah Nurse and six other members of Toronto’s team, as well as five from Montreal formed the Canadian national team that just won the gold at the IIHF World Championship days ago. Nurse was a keg part of that team, as she is with Toronto and would be this afternoon as well.
Toronto opened the scoring on a first period goal from Blayre Turnbull and Montreal responded with one of their own, from Sarah Bujold. Nurse scored forty seconds into the second period, deflecting a shot from Allie Munroe that was reviewed for having been touched by a high stick and on replay, was deemed a good goal. Montreal again evened the score when Erin Ambrose score on the power play with just twenty-five seconds to go in the period.
With ten minutes to play in the third period, and the two teams deadlocked at two goals a piece, the feeling was that the next goal would seal the deal.
Sarah Bujold took a hooking penalty with 6:10 remaining in the game, sending Toronto to the power play. Up to that point, Toronto had been unproductive on three prior power play attempts. Two days prior, Montreal had soared to a comeback victory largely due to their power play, where they scored three goals on four attempts. Today would be about special teams again – this time though, Montreal was relying heavily on the penalty killers.
With 2:56, Montreal would get a chance on the power play that had already put up a marker in this game. Jocelyne Larocque took down Marie-Phillip Poulin down and earned herself two minutes in the sin bin. This time though, the penalty killers came out on top and this game was headed to overtime.
It would take only thirteen seconds for Sarah Nurse to riffle a wrist shot clean over the shoulder of Ann-Renee Desbiens as Toronto remains top of the standings. Montreal will need Ottawa to beat Minnesota tonight if they have any chance of overtaking Minnesota for second spot.
Read More:
>> The PWHL announce The Walter Cup
>> Without Poulin, Montreal lose to Ottawa in Laval
>> Newly signed Melodie Daoust leads Montreal over Boston
Ottawa currently hold the final playoff berth by just two points over Boston. Boston play New York this afternoon, and while New York has no chance of getting out of last place, Boston has everything left to play for.
Montreal returns to the Verdun auditorium for their final home game of the regular season on Wednesday, April 24, when they take on New York. Toronto become the first team to clinch a playoff spot, and will take on New York – the only team assured to not be taking part in the post season, on April 28th.
