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The Toronto Sceptres’ push to the playoffs got off to a rocky start.
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The Sceptres began the day with a five-point lead over third place Boston and three games remaining, but by day’s end that lead was down to two points with two games left after a 3-0 loss to the Fleet on their home ice Saturday afternoon.
Boston took control of this one right away, scoring 2:35 into the game on a beautiful back-of-the-net pass from Jamie Lee Rattray to Lexie Adzija for the game’s first goal.
Boston would make it 2-0 before the end of the period as Hannah Brandt would bang home a shot past a screened Kristen Campbell.
Toronto actually outshout Boston 29-15 in the game but could not solve Czechia national team goaltender Klara Peslarova, who earned her first PWHL shutout in her first ever league start.
Peslarova was only in the Boston net because Aerin Frankel, the Fleet’s normal starter, got a little banged up in the U.S. gold-medal win over Canada at the IIHF World Women’s Championship.
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Peslarova had a total of 14 minutes in the Boston net prior to Saturday’s start, but was coming off a very solid showing at the world championship in her home country. It was Peslarova’s brilliance that almost saw the Americans knocked off in the semifinals before they went on to win gold.
The Sceptres had their opportunities including a breakaway by Sarah Nurse in the second period which Toronto dominated, but Peslarova was up to the task on that opportunity and every other one the visitors managed to generate.
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The first day back in action following the worlds also saw Ottawa creep to within three points of Toronto for second overall with a win on home ice over Montreal.
The Sceptres finish up the regular season with home contests against the New York Sirens on Tuesday and the Ottawa Charge on Saturday.
Toronto has yet to officially clinch a playoff spot but can do so with one win in either of their final two games or by a single loss by Minnesota.
The Ottawa victory on Saturday officially eliminated New York from the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
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