Turnbull scores twice as Toronto cruises past Minnesota 4-0 in first-ever PWHL playoff game
Toronto’s Emma Maltais, right, celebrates with Jocelyne Larocque after scoring against Minnesota during the second period of Game 1 of a PWHL hockey playoffs semifinal Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO (AP) — Blayre Turnbull scored two goals to lead Toronto to a 4-0 win over Minnesota in the first-ever Professional Women’s Hockey League playoff game on Wednesday night.
Toronto’s Rebecca Leslie, right, is checked by Minnesota’s Natalie Buchbinder during the second period of Game 1 of a PWHL hockey playoffs semifinal, in Toronto, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Natalie Spooner, with the opening goal and one assist, and Emma Maltais also scored for top-seeded Toronto in front of 8,473 fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum, the home of the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.
Toronto players take to the ice for Game 1 of a PWHL hockey playoffs semifinal against Minnesota on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Kristen Campbell posted a 26-save shutout. Nicole Hensley stopped 16 shots for fourth-seeded Minnesota.
Game 2 in the best-of-five semifinal is set for Friday in Toronto.
The hosts entered Wednesday winners of four straight to close the regular season, including a 4-1 win over Minnesota last Wednesday.
Toronto went 2-1-0-1 against Minnesota in the regular season. Minnesota earned a 3-1 victory on Jan. 10.
The home crowd celebrates after Toronto scored its third goal against Minnesota, during the second period of Game 1 of a PWHL hockey playoffs semifinal Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Spooner opened the scoring at 9:47 of the first period to the delight of the deafening home crowd. The PWHL scoring champion took a pass from Hannah Miller and fired a wrister that went top corner past Hensley’s glove.
Maltais made it 2-0 at the 55-second mark of the second period. Nurse drew the attention of two defenders approaching the slot and found a streaking Maltais who backhanded it between Hensley’s pads.
Turnbull got in on the action with 4:55 remaining in the middle frame. She took the puck up ice, sent it off to Spooner who dished it back and Turnbull tapped it in.
Toronto’s Emma Maltais, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Minnesota during the second period of Game 1 of a PWHL hockey playoffs semifinal Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Turnbull netted her second of the contest with 37.8 seconds left in the game. She buried home a rebound from a Miller miss.
Minnesota ended with a 26-20 edge in shots.
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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
Toronto goaltender Kristen Campbell (50) keeps an eye on the play as Toronto’s Kali Flanagan (6) defends against Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle (13) during the second period of Game 1 of a PWHL hockey playoffs semifinal Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto’s Sarah Nurse (20) and Minnesota’s Clair DeGeorge (14) vie for the puck during the second period of Game 1 of a PWHL hockey playoffs semifinal Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
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