TORONTO, ON (January 18, 2024) — Boston’s Loren Gabel scored two goals and one assist, including the third period game-winner, and linemate Alina Müller recorded three primary assists in a 3-2 win over Toronto at Mattamy Athletic Centre on Wednesday.
The duo first combined on Gabel’s second period goal at 12:38. After withstanding a barrage of scoring chances from the home team, Müller was able to gain control of the puck and poke it ahead to Gabel, who converted a 2-on-1 rush to tie the game 1-1. The 2019 Patty Kazmaier winner fired a shot over the glove of Toronto’s Kristen Campbell, her first marker of the season.
Megan Keller scored the go-ahead-goal six minutes later, at 18:38, when Müller showcased her slick stick-handling, finishing with a feed in the slot to Keller, who buried a one-timer over Campbell’s glove. Gabel got the secondary assist on the goal.
With under two minutes to go in the game, the duo combined for a third time when Gabel took a feed from Müller and danced around the Toronto defender, firing a shot into the top corner of the net, picking the same spot as the two previous Boston markers.
The home team started out strong as Sarah Nurse drew a pair of Boston penalties early in the first period, but despite effectively controlling the puck on the powerplay, Toronto twice came away empty-handed.
Less than a minute after Boston’s second minor penalty expired, Toronto defender Jocelyne Larocque stepped up to lead the rush, driving to the net and creating a scramble in goaltender Emma Söderberg’s crease. Forward Hannah Miller was able to pot the rebound, her first goal of the season, giving Toronto the early 1-0 lead at 9:00.
Toronto continued with strong play in the offensive zone following the goal, jumping out to an early edge in shots on net. Boston withstood the pressure, with Söderberg turning away multiple dangerous Toronto chances.
Despite being doubled up on shots at 18-9, Boston escaped to the dressing room with a 2-1 lead after two.
Toronto’s perseverance paid off midway through the period as Miller grinded the puck into the offensive zone and took advantage of a broken play in the crease to net her second goal of the game. Rebecca Leslie delivered the puck cross-crease to teammate Jesse Compher, pulling Söderberg out of the net and allowing Miller a wide-open cage to bury another rebound.
Toronto was unable to even up the score with their goalie pulled, as they ultimately fell 3-2 at home.
Up next, Boston returns home to host New York on January 20 at 12:30 p.m. ET. Later that day, at 8:00 p.m. ET, Toronto looks for their second win of the season when they visit Montréal at Verdun Auditorium.
Postgame Quotes:
Boston forward Loren Gabel, on the win: “It was a great team win. Müller, Knight and I have great chemistry on the ice, and it’s great to see. And we just play so well together. It started on the back-end too from Söderberg, she played an amazing game. I think we’re just gonna go up from here.”
Toronto’s Hannah Miller, on her team’s performance, despite the 3-2 loss: “I think today was a step forward, for sure. It’s obviously tough losing. It’s not the result that we want, but I think you know, just continuing to build and take the positives from this moving forward.”
Notes:
- Attendance: 2,491 (Sell-Out) Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto, ON
- Three Stars: 1) Loren Gabel 2) Hannah Miller 3) Emma Söderberg
- Final shots were 32-22 for Toronto — Toronto led the shot count in all three periods (10-3, 8-6, 14-13)
- Loren Gabel became the first Boston player with a multi-goal performance.
- Alina Müller three-assists are the most in a single game by a Boston player this season.
- Both Gabel and Müller produced the first three-point game in team history.
- Hannah Miller became the first Toronto player with a multi-goal performance.
- Emma Söderberg recorded her first PWHL win in her North American pro debut.
- Miller led all players with six shots, followed by teammate Blayre Turnbull who recorded five.
- Four players recorded four shots each: Natalie Spooner of Toronto; Boston’s Gabel, Müller, and Hilary Knight.
- Toronto was 0/5 on the powerplay — Boston was 0/2 with the advantage.
- After tonight’s action, Boston is now a perfect 9-for-9 on the penalty kill this season.
- Toronto’s first period goal to take a 1-0 lead was their first lead on home ice this season and the first time they’ve scored a first period goal.
- Toronto has yet to win on home ice — Their next opportunity to do so is on January 26 when they host New York.
- Five PWHL games in a row have ended with a 3-2 final score, including tonight’s TOR/BOS and OTT/MIN matchups.
- UFC athletes Gillian Robertson and Jasmine Jasudavicius performed the ceremonial face-off.
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