The Montreal Victoire hosted the Toronto Scepters for a Sunday matinee (December 7) at Place Bell. Both teams were looking for a win to really put some legs on their season and gain some momentum heading into the short break coming up.
Related: 3 takeaways from the Torrent’s 2-1 win over the Sirens
The Scepters got a goal from Emma Gentrybut it wasn’t enough. The Victoire played an all-round strong game and neutralized everything Toronto wanted to do on offense. They defeated the Scepters 3-1 to drop to 2-2-0-0.
Scepters need to be more aggressive
This Toronto team has a lot of skills, but it’s another part of their game that needs some help. They have been outscored in the hits column in every game so far this season, sometimes by double digits. There was also a moment in the first period of Sunday’s match when captain Blayre Turnbull took a heavy shot in the back, and there was no response from her teammates.
A solid lead from the Scepters could prove valuable later. They will need them leaders in this category in Emma Maltais and Renata Fast to stay physical and others to take on a bigger role in this area. A team that completes their checks and stands up for their teammates (especially their captain) is a team that can win in the postseason.
Penalty kill remains current despite conceding the first goal
While they have struggled a bit on the power play, the other half of Toronto’s special teams is firing on all cylinders. The criminal homicide unit has killed after 10 of 11 penalties the team has won so far, including a five-on-three in Sunday’s match. Although their first goal, which saw them fall short, saw them drop in the rankings, I’d say a score of around 90% is still pretty good.
It looks good both on paper and on the ice. They’ve managed to keep teams on the perimeter and limit most of the risks that normally come with these advantages (minus the chance that passed Montreal). This is a good sign for the progress of this team.
Jesse Compher has to get to work
The first-line winger, who really became a star last season, has had a slow start so far. Jesse Compher She posted a career-high of 18 points last season, and she could very well put up similar numbers again. However, she hasn’t quite looked like the same player to start the 2025/26 season. She has just one assist in four games and is looking for the touch she had when she scored nine goals.
If Compher can catch fire and renew the confidence and strength she had last season, it would be a game-changer for this Toronto team. There’s still plenty of time to step it up, but the sooner the better for her teammates.
Scepters begin the takeover journey after the break
After the PWHL gave some of their players about ten days off to compete in the Rivalry Series, Toronto is back in action by taking a short, but unique road trip. They will first go to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to play the Victoire again at the Scotiabank Centre. That game is on December 17th with puck drop at 4:30 PM MDT.
Then they head south to Newark, New Jersey to play the New York Sirens at the Prudential Center. That’s another Sunday matinee (December 21) starting at 10am MDT.
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