Toronto hands Whale their third straight loss

Connecticut’s Kennedy Marchment, right, and Toronto’s Brooke Boquist (19) battle for the puck in Saturday night’s PHF game in Simsbury. Toronto prevailed, 4-1. (Jonathan Sawn/Connecticut Whale)

The visiting Toronto Six scored a pair of power play goals in the second period to pull away and beat the Connecticut Whale, 5-3 Saturday at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury in Premier Hockey Federation action.

The Whale (8-8-2) dropped their third straight game but didn’t lose any ground in their quest for the fourth and final spot in the upcoming PHF playoffs. Their closest competition, Montreal (7-11-1), also lost on Saturday to Boston.

Connecticut and Toronto complete the two-game series on Sunday with a contest beginning at noon in Simsbury.

On Saturday night, Toronto (14-3-2) received goals from five different skaters as the Six kept pressure on Boston (15-2-1) for first place in the PHF with their fourth win in the last five games.

“I don’t think we can really expect much more than what we did today,” Toronto’s Emma Woods told reporter Justin Levine after the road win. “I think we had moments where we were losing control of the game, but I thought we played solid. This ice size is smaller than what we’re used to at home, it was a long travel day, and then a long day today for the group, so I think scoring five goals under the circumstances is a big win for us. I think that’s a statement win for us, and that obviously puts us in a good spot moving forward.”

Toronto had a 2-0 lead before the Whale got on the scoreboard with a goal from Alyssa Wohlfeiler but Toronto scored a pair of power play goals in less than two minutes to take a 4-1 lead.

Taylor Girard and Caitrin Longeran added goals for Connecticut in the third period. Goalie Abbie Ives (6-6) made 20 saves in net for the Whale.

Making her 14th start of the season, Toronto keeper Elaine Chuli made 33 saves to earn her 11th win of the season.

The Whale hosted their annual Alzheimer’s Awareness game in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association of Connecticut and wore specialty jerseys on Saturday.

Whale sign Ade: Earlier this week, the Whale said they had signed veteran defender Rachael Ade for the remainder of the season to take the place of Mallory Souliotis, who is out with an injury.

Ade, 27, has spent three years with the squad from 2017-19 and in 2021. A year ago, she played with the Riveters with eight assists in 20 games.

Toronto 5, Connecticut 3
At Simsbury
Toronto (14-3-2)               1  3  1  — 5
Connecticut (8-8-2)         0  1  2  – 3
First period
Toronto 1, Courney Gardiner (Dominika Laskova), 14:53; Penalties — none
Second period
Toronto 2, Shiann Darkangelo (Michela Cava), 4:27; Connecticut 1, Alyssa Wohlfeiler (Allie Munroe), 9:34, pp; Toronto 3, Leah Lum (Michela Cava) 14:09, pp; Toronto 4, Lexi Templeman (Dominika Laskova, Emma Woods), 16:49, pp; Penalties – Dominika Laskova (T) tripping, 9:18; Tori Howran (CT) hooking, 13:24; Shannon Turner (CT) slashing, 13:40; Caitlin Lonergan (CT) hooking, 15:40
Third period
Connecticut 2, Taylor Girard, 1:09 pp; Toronto 5, Emma Woods (Breanne Wilson-Bennett), 11:01; Connecticut 3, Caitrin Lonergan, 19:52; Penalties – Breanne Wilson Bennett (T) tripping, 0:54; Emma Greco (T) holding, 6:51
Goalies: Toronto – Elaine Chuli (W, 11-1-2) 33 saves; Connecticut – Abbie Ives (L, 6-6) 20 saves; Shots – Connecticut 36 (13-11-12), Toronto 25 (11-6-8); Power plays – Connecticut 2-3, Toronto 2-3