The Toronto Six started this game in search of redemption and that’s exactly what they got. In their previous match against the Minnesota Whitecaps, they went from a seemingly sure win to a loss in overtime. When the puck fell for today’s game, the six were quick, focused, and ready to win.
5-1 who? 🤫 pic.twitter.com/5z3MNn3yni
– Toronto Six (@TheTorontoSix) January 31, 2021
With Brooke Boquist, Emma Woods, and Kristen Barbara off the line-up, there were shoes to fill and the rest of the team to step up. And guess what? You did just that.
From an early lead to a game of goals and penalties, the Toronto Six scored a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Whitecaps to expand their winning streak to three games.
Here is a full recap of the game.
The good (and big)
This game was as fast as it came. The Toronto Six dominated the first period, doubling the Whitecaps’ shots 15-7 (and a closing balance of 45:31), which included many good looks and scoring opportunities. Elaine Chuli started out on the net and played a strong and solid game for The Six. Chuli denied the Whitecaps getting anything past her in the first phase and helped The Six build momentum and confidence as the game progressed.
ICYMI: Elaine Chuli is real #Good in hockey pic.twitter.com/KfUbQWBoza
– Toronto Six (@TheTorontoSix) January 31, 2021
Mikyla Grant-Mentis opened the scoring for The Six a little more than seven minutes after the start of the game and scored 23 seconds in the third half. Grant-Mentis is now the league leader. Taylor Woods, Breanne Wilson-Bennett and Brooke Boquist round out the rest of the top 5 in the NWHL.
She is unstoppable pic.twitter.com/SgsHyiNeho
– Toronto Six (@TheTorontoSix) January 31, 2021
Sarah-Eve Coutu Godbout scored her first goal in the NWHL when she helped the Toronto Six take their third (yes, third) lead.
Sarah-Ève Coutu-Godbout: Welcome to the National Women’s Hockey League 😼@CoutuGodbout // // #The six pic.twitter.com/2ZJeotFANU
– Toronto Six (@TheTorontoSix) January 31, 2021
The Six have only continued to improve their game since the beginning of the NWHL season. They make games, shoot the puck, and play a physical game. Perhaps they find that the chances of winning the Isobel Cup become more realistic and clearer, but they play a pretty stable game day after day. It looks like nervous’first dayThe nervousness has subsided and they are ready to show the rest of the league what they have been working on.
And in case you missed it earlier – but also because I like to say it – the Toronto Six are currently in a three-game winning streak, with one more game determining the seed before the semifinals begin.
THIRD WIN A ROW. THIRD WIN A ROW. THIRD WIN A ROW. THIRD WIN A ROW. THIRD WIN A ROW. THIRD WIN A ROW. pic.twitter.com/8d4NcODUDE
– Toronto Six (@TheTorontoSix) January 31, 2021
Not that good
Okay, let’s get started. Yes, the Toronto Six won, but they received way too many penalties in this game and almost gave up a shorthanded goal in the first phase, which could have drastically changed the energy of the game. Your first period of play is what you want to see on the ice for a full 60 minutes. Instead, the Six imposed a total of six penalties, while the Whitecaps demanded four. The Whitecaps managed to score 2 of their 3 goals on penalties for the Six, which means they either have to stay out of the box or work on their penalty shootout … or preferably both.
The Whitecaps also managed to end the game 2-2, with less than a minute left in the second period. Again, the Toronto Six have to play their full 60. As shown in this game with goals from both teams in the final minutes, those final minutes are important and can make all the difference.
In the post-game press, Digit Murphy noted that the Toronto Six is ​​still learning. After all, it is still her first year in the NWHL. With some of their top line outs tonight, it gave the team a chance to try different looks and positions to see what works. Murphy also noted that the Six will face fewer penalties going forward, but that doesn’t mean they want them to change the physicality in their game. This team is strong and a force to be reckoned with. You just have to stay out of the box.
The important
The Isobel Cup Final is just around the corner! After the Metropolitan Riveters withdrew from the tournament, the NWHL had to revise their schedules to determine the sowing and game. Seeds 1, 2 and 3 for the semifinals will be determined after the Toronto Six, Minnesota Whitecaps and Connecticut Whale play against each other again. After today’s game, the Toronto Six have one more game to play before their seed is determined. The fourth seed is determined between the game of Boston Pride and Buffalo Beauts. As soon as the seeds for the four best teams have been sown, the semi-finals will be played on February 4th and the Isobel Cup final on February 5th.
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. With this being Toronto Six’s first year in the NWHL, The Six supporters and fans are excited and want their team to win. During the post-game press, Murphy noted that the Toronto Six were enjoying their experience in the league, playing one game at a time. When asked what they think of the rest of the tournament, Murphy said that they just want to make Toronto proud, and no matter what the result, they are here to stay.
– Katy Harris (@ KJHarris8) January 31, 2021
Check out the Toronto Six as they battle the Connecticut Whale on twitch.tv/nwhl on Sunday, January 31st at 6pm.
