EDMONTON 鈥� Daryl Watts scored 51 seconds into overtime, propelling the Toronto Sceptres to a 3-2 Professional Women's Hockey League victory over the Ottawa Charge Sunday at Rogers Place.
It was Watts鈥� second goal of the game 鈥� part of the PWHL's Takeover Tour 鈥� following a second-period power-play marker. Julia Gosling also scored for Toronto (6-2-4-6) with the man advantage.
Gosling鈥檚 marker found its way through the pads of Charge goalie Emerance Maschmeyer with 23.4 seconds left in the second period
A power-play marker from Gabbie Hughes on the first shot of the game had staked Ottawa (6-0-3-8) to an early lead. Hughes took a crisp pass from Jincy Roese, then rotated from her backhand to her forehand before sweeping the puck past Toronto netminder Raygan Kirk.
Ottawa tied the game at 4:10 of the third, as the Charge鈥檚 Tereza Vanisova walked into a shot from the slot. It was the Czech鈥檚 team-leading eighth goal of the season.
The Edmonton game was the fifth of nine PWHL "Takeover Tour鈥� neutral-site games that are on the league鈥檚 schedule for 2024-25. The full house of 17,518 was treated to a goaltending duel between the Charge鈥檚 Maschmeyer, who stopped 31 of 34 shots, and Kirk, who made 33 saves.
Toronto scratched reigning league MVP Natalie Spooner, who made her return from injury in Wednesday鈥檚 win over Minnesota. With this being the team鈥檚 third game in five days, Spooner was given the afternoon off for 鈥渓oad management.鈥�
TAKEAWAYS
Sceptres: Kirk gave up a goal on Ottawa鈥檚 first shot of the game; she then held the Sceptres in the game through a first period where the rink was tilted in the Charge鈥檚 favour. The Sceptres came out of the period down only 1-0, despite being outshot by a whopping 17-2 margin.
Charge: After totally dominating the first period, the Charge came out flat in the second, and were outshot 19-5. It was as if the two teams had switched jerseys during the intermission.
KEY MOMENT
During the three-on-three overtime, Watts streaked down the wing, then behind the Charge net, then stuffed in the wraparound goal to seal the win for Toronto.
KEY STAT
Toronto is now on a four- game win streak. After Ottawa鈥檚 8-3 win over Minnesota on Thursday, it鈥檚 the second point-earning game in a row for the Charge.
UP NEXT
Sceptres: Visit the New York Sirens on Wednesday.
Charge: Host the Boston Fleet on Thursday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 16, 2025.
Steven Sandor, The Canadian Press
