Spooner scores twice, Toronto downs New York for 1st PWHL home victory

Natalie Spooner scored twice as Toronto defeated New York 2-0 for its first Professional Women’s Hockey League home win Friday night.

Kristen Campbell earned her first shutout as Toronto (2-5-1) outshot New York (2-4-1) 30-18 before 2,506 spectators at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

The win was the first at home for Toronto after three disappointments and allowed the squad to move into a fifth-place tie with New York in the six-team PWHL.

Toronto head coach Troy Ryan also celebrated his 52nd birthday with the much-needed victory.

After scoring in the second period, Spooner lassoed a loose puck to the side of the New York net, then registered her fifth goal in eight games.

There was little offence in the opening 20 minutes, even though New York enjoyed two power plays and Toronto had one of its own.

Toronto carried the play in the second. outshooting the visitors 15-4.

Toronto’s Rebecca Leslie came close to opening the scoring but her shot off the rush glanced off the glove of New York netminder Corinne Schroeder at the 10:58 mark.

Spooner provided Toronto with a 1-0 advantage. She took a pass at centre from Hannah Miller, broke in off the wing and deposited a nifty deke between Schroeder’s pads.

Schroeder kept Toronto from increasing its lead late in the second. She slid across to make a pad stop on Maggie Connors on a 2-on-0 break.

This was the third meeting between Toronto and New York. New York claimed the season opener on the road 4-0 on Jan. 1. Toronto won in New York 3-2 four nights later.