Toronto edges Montreal before nearly 9,000 fans during PWHL Takeover Weekend at PPG Paints Arena

Fans from all over Pittsburgh and Canada filled the lower bowl at PPG Paints Arena to watch some of the best women’s hockey players in the world Sunday afternoon as part of Professional Women’s Hockey League Takeover Weekend.

There was a big-game atmosphere as the fans roared after every big hit, shot, deke and goal as Toronto earned a 2-1 victory over Montreal in front of 8,850 fans.

“We loved coming here after the Olympics with the turn out for that,” Toronto’s Natalie Spooner said. “They’ve proven time and time again they are a sports city, and they support all their athletes. Hopefully, down the road they get a team here.”

Montreal and Toronto shattered their previous attendance records when the two squared off in Toronto, almost drawing in 20,000 fans. They previously broke a USA attendance record with the PWHL, bringing in 13,736 fans in Detroit.

Pittsburgh was another pit stop on the PWHL takeover and almost 9,000 fans and the players all brought the energy.

Today's @thepwhlofficial three stars:
⭐️ Kali Flanagan (@PWHL_Toronto)
⭐️⭐️ Kristin O'Neill (@PWHL_Montreal)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kristen Campbell (PWHL Toronto) pic.twitter.com/2Lm1otkmac

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 17, 2024

“This is what we were fighting for the whole time for these little girls to be able to watch us and to have a dream to play ice hockey,” Spooner said. “It’s happening and it’s here. Most of us growing up didn’t have that. We had the Olympic girls, but now there will be so many girls who want to play hockey who stay in hockey.”

Among those in attendance were founding members of the Pittsburgh Pennies, the first women’s professional hockey team in Pittsburgh that was founded in 1972.

Toronto and Montreal had a lot to play for as they were tied in the standings with 30 points. Kali Flanagan was the star of the show as she had a goal and an assist for Toronto.

Flanagan had the go-ahead goal in the second period.

Toronto killed a penalty early on in the second period. Not even a minute after fighting off Montreal’s power play, Flanagan banked in a goal off the back of Ann-Renee Desbiens below the goal line. Maggie Connors and Blayre Turnbull assisted.

“I was just trying to keep the puck in,” Flanagan said. “I was pinching down to see where the puck was going to go, and it popped out and I was thinking just get it on net. Just being there and having a crowd reaction like that, our team has had so much support. It was just really cool to have that reaction.”

Toronto earned multiple scoring chances early and struck with the game’s first goal.

Flanagan dumped the puck around the boards to keep the puck in the zone. Spooner won the race to the puck and delivered a no-look backhand pass to Hannah Miller, who sniped a wrister over the shoulder of Desbiens to notch the first goal of the game.

“We had a lot of low plays before that,” Spooner said. “We were having a lot of possession time trying to find those plays. A lot of times I was taking the puck to the net, but then both Nursey (Sarah Nurse) and Miller were both open there, and so I was like, ‘OK I see them. I’ll throw it there, and, hopefully, it goes in,’ and Miller made an amazing shot up high and got us on the board.”

Nurse, one of the cover athletes of NHL 23, commented on their forecheck and her line with Spooner and Miller.

“I think our strength offensively, we are really good on the walls of the offensive zone and when we go to the trenches and play a little bit dirty,” Nurse said. “That’s when we keep possession. It doesn’t just give chances for ourselves but sets up the next line for success. That’s something we talked about and want to keep doing.”

The 1-0 lead was short-lived. Montreal’s Erin Ambrose broke the puck out to Claire Dalton and found Kristin O’Neill flying down the wing. O’Neill’s shot hit the crossbar and ricocheted over Kristen Campbell’s shoulder.

Montreal Coach Kori Cheverie was happy to see O’Neill get rewarded for her strong play.

“Kristin O’Neill, If I can clone her and have a whole team of Kristin O’Neills, that would be pretty cool, but I’m really happy with how she got rewarded tonight,” Cheverie said. “She works so hard every single game. She isn’t typically known for her offense, but she was relentless on the puck pursuit there, and she was rewarded with a pretty nicely placed puck.”

It was 1-1 after the first period. Flanagan then scored the bank-in goal that ended up being the winner in the second period.

Toronto peppered Desbiens with five shots in under 6 minutes to start the third, keeping the puck in Montreal’s end. Nevertheless, Desbiens and the Montreal defense stood tall, holding off the Toronto forecheck.

Nonetheless, Montreal couldn’t generate opportunities offensively.

Montreal pulled its goalie and had one last scoring chance, but Toronto held on for its 10th straight win.

“Our mentality never changed,” Nurse said. “From when the puck dropped on Jan. 1, we had this mentality where we wanted to play a certain way. I don’t think we were executing our first couple games, and it definitely showed, but our attitude is what stayed steady and consistent the whole season.”

Montreal’s Cheverie didn’t get the outcome she wanted, but she and the team enjoyed Pittsburgh.

“It’s exciting for our team to come to Pittsburgh,” Cheverie said. “It’s a great sports city. Penguins have been awesome to us and awesome to me. To be able to bring our team here and share the experience is great.”

Spooner is excited for the future of the PWHL and is grateful to play in the league.

“The level of pay is amazing,” Spooner said. “It’s the top players in the world, but it’s the little things that make it professional. We have the best staff. The travel, they make it easy on us. They take our bags. We just worry about ourselves. The meals. There’s so much going into it to make it feel like a professional atmosphere, and we’re pretty lucky to have that now.”

WHAT A DAY FOR WOMEN'S HOCKEY! ????

Today's @PWHL_Montreal vs. @PWHL_Toronto game was the highest-attended women's hockey game in Pittsburgh history (8,850 fans). pic.twitter.com/Rnsu9xxUoz

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 17, 2024