TORONTO — In a thrilling showdown on Friday night, the Minnesota Frost overcame a first-period deficit to defeat the Toronto Sceptres 5-3, tying the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) first-round best-of-five series at 1-1. Defender Lee Stecklein shone brightly with two goals and three points, while Sophie Jacques scored the decisive goal late in the third period.
The game, held at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, saw a crowd of 7,659, including tennis legend Billie Jean King, who received a standing ovation for her contributions to women's sports and the PWHL's inception.
Toronto started strong, taking a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when Hayley Scamurra's shot from the side boards deflected off Minnesota defender Mellissa Channell-Wadkins and past Frost goalie Maddie Rooney.
However, the Frost answered back in the second period with a flurry of offense. The team scored three consecutive goals, starting with a power-play marker from Stecklein, who found the back of the net after a well-executed play. Michela Cava followed up with another goal to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead, and Stecklein added his second goal shortly thereafter, putting the Frost ahead 3-1.
But the Sceptres weren't ready to back down. They mounted a comeback late in the second period, with Savanah Harmon scoring on a power play and Allie Munroe netting another goal just 27 seconds later, leveling the score at 3-3.
As the third period unfolded, the tension in the arena was palpable. With just over six minutes left in the game, Jacques took a give-and-go pass from Taylor Heise and fired a wrist shot past Sceptres goalie Kristin Campbell, reclaiming the lead for the Frost at 4-3. Channell-Wadkins sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute, bringing the score to 5-3.
Despite the loss, the Sceptres showcased their resilience and offensive prowess, outshooting the Frost 30-25. Campbell made 20 saves, but it was a challenging night for her as she allowed five goals, marking the first time since December 7, 2024, that she had conceded that many in a game.
On the defensive side, Renata Fast led all skaters in shots with five, contributing significantly to Toronto's offensive efforts. Interestingly, six of the game's eight goals were scored by defenders, highlighting the importance of blue-liners in this matchup.
The Frost's Maddie Rooney was solid in goal, stopping 27 of 30 shots, demonstrating her ability to keep her team in the game despite the Sceptres' aggressive attack.
In terms of roster changes, the Frost's Britta Curl-Salemme faced a one-game suspension for a head check on Toronto's Renata Fast, while Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan opted to insert rookie defender Rylind MacKinnon into the lineup at the expense of forward Laura Kluge.
As the series shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Sunday, May 11, 2025, the Frost will look to capitalize on their momentum. The puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, where fans are eager to see if the Frost can take a commanding lead in the series.
With the stakes high and both teams showcasing their skills, this series promises to be a thrilling contest as they vie for a spot in the next round of the playoffs. Game 4, if necessary, will also take place in Minnesota on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
