The Toronto Sceptres' struggle to convert opportunities into goals proved costly once again on Tuesday night, as they fell 5-1 to the visiting Minnesota Frost at home. Despite generating a significant number of high-quality chances, particularly in the final two periods, the Sceptres were stymied by an outstanding performance from Frost goaltender Nicole Hensley and undone by a handful of defensive miscues.
A Game of Missed Opportunities and Key Saves
For the second straight home game, the narrative for Toronto was one of dominance in shot attempts without the corresponding result on the scoreboard. The Sceptres outshot Minnesota 9-6 in the second period and 14-8 in the third, finishing with a 32-26 edge overall. However, Hensley stood tall, turning aside 31 shots to earn first-star honours.
The lone bright spot offensively came early when Daryl Watts redirected a pass from behind the net for her fourth goal of the season. The marker was a historic one, making Watts just the second player in PWHL history to reach the 50-point plateau, joining Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin in that exclusive club.
From there, the night belonged to Hensley and the Frost. Minnesota capitalized on their chances, while Toronto's attempts were either saved, blocked, or missed the net entirely. The final score was inflated by an empty-net goal late in the third after Toronto pulled goaltender Elaine Chuli with over five minutes remaining while down three goals.
Behind the Score: Goaltending and Lineup Experiments
The loss highlighted several ongoing themes for the Sceptres. In net, Elaine Chuli had an uncharacteristically tough night, allowing four goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Raygan Kirk to start the third period. Head coach Troy Ryan pointed to two goals in particular—a bizarre ricochet off Chuli's mask from behind the goal line and a self-directed clearance into her own net—as plays she would want back.
In search of more offensive punch, Coach Ryan continued to experiment with his forward lines. Notably, leading scorer Daryl Watts spent time on a wing alongside centre Blayre Turnbull, a combination Ryan said he likes for the way the two players feed off each other. Meanwhile, Taylor Zanon moved up to play with Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner, creating several prime chances that Hensley managed to deny.
On defense, the return of Renata Fast from a three-game absence led to a new pairing with Ella Shelton. The duo, both known for their offensive instincts from the blue line, offered a different look and could be an option revisited if the team's scoring struggles persist, even after defender Allie Munroe returns from injury.
Persistent Issues: Faceoffs and Finishing Touch
Two areas of concern were again front and centre in the defeat. The Sceptres' ongoing difficulties in the faceoff circle were a direct contributor to their downfall, with three of Minnesota's goals originating from lost defensive-zone draws. Through nine games, Toronto has won more faceoffs than its opponent only twice. Only centre Emma Maltais (53.7%) is winning over half of her draws this season.
Furthermore, the team's power play, which went 0-for-1 on the night, continues to search for consistency. With only two goals in 22 opportunities this season (a 9.1% success rate), the unit ranks last in the league. While they generated chances against Minnesota, the final, finishing touch remains elusive.
The Sceptres will need to quickly address these shortcomings as they look to bounce back from a loss that, based on the flow of play, felt closer than the 5-1 final score would indicate.
