(Photo courtesy of The Lowell Sun) “Emma Maltais and Megan Keller fight for the puck.”

Sarah Mahannah
Connector Editor

Toronto’s Natalie Spooner scored a hat trick, continuing her goal streak to 10 goals in 10 games. The visitors won against Boston 5-3 at the Tsongas Center on Feb. 14. 

Spooner is leader in goals in the league, Taylor Girard and Loren Gabel lead PWHL Boston with three each. 

Many eyes were on Boston as they just made the first trade in PWHL history. On Feb. 11 it was announced that Boston defenseman Sophie Jaques had been traded to Minnesota for Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook. 

The trade came as a shock to the players themselves along with fans. Trades during the season are often rare because it is such a big shift for the player and the team, but according to Boston GM Danielle Marmer, she had her eyes set on Tapani for a while to strengthen the Boston team’s offense.  

Boston had almost double the shots on goal compared to Toronto at 35-18. Unfortunately, they were not able to find their groove on their powerplay and went 0 for 5 while Toronto was not much better, but able to go 1 for 4. 

The first period stayed scoreless for Boston, but Toronto was able to get past Emma Söderberg at the 14:13 mark. The first goal of the game was scored by Sarah Nurse with assists from Emma Maltais and Renata Fast.  

The second period would stay with Toronto in the lead. They scored two goals in the period. The first was at the 11:49 mark by Natalie Spooner with assists from Lauriane Rogeau and Kristen Campbell. The second of the period was 17:07 in by Spooner with an assist by Sarah Nurse with a 2-on-1 rush.  

Both sides got two power plays during the period. Boston was able to get two two-minute PPs resulting from Jesse Compher with interference and Allie Munroe with Boarding. Boston’s penalties of the period were from Alina Müller for body checking and Megan Keller for interference.   

The third period is when Boston would get their first goal of the game. They came within 2:21 of each other. The first was at 6:04 by Jamie Lee Rattray assisted by Theresa Schafzahl and Megan Keller. The second was at 8:25 by Hannah Brandt assisted by Megan Keller and Taylor Girard.  

In between Boston’s goals, Toronto would score one at 7:28 by Kali Flanagan assisted by Emma Maltais. After Boston’s two goals, Spooner would score a hat trick, which was her first of her PWHL career, at 17:32 with an empty-netter assisted by Jesse Compher and Emma Maltais. 

Boston would fight hard to even the score in the last minutes of the game. Girard was able to get Boston their third goal at 18:32. Toronto was able to fight Boston off for the remaining minutes, winning 5-3. 

This game brought Toronto up to third place in the league with 14 points and a record of 4-1-0-5. Boston has 11 points for the season, a record of 2-2-1-3 and tied with New York for fourth place. 

The three stars of the game were Toronto’s Natalie Spooner and Sarah Nurse, along with Boston’s Megan Keller.