Britta Curl-Salemme scores her first pro goals in Frost victory at Toronto
Michela Cava also scored twice for Minnesota, which has won two straight since losing their opener in OT
Britta Curl-Salemme, the former Wisconsin forward picked ninth overall in this past summer’s draft, scored her first goals for the Frost on Saturday as Minnesota overwhelmed the Sceptres in a PWHL game at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.
Michela Cava scored twice, and Brooke Bryant, Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield each had two assists for the defending PWHL champion Frost (2-0-1-0), who have won two straight after dropping their season opener to New York in overtime.
The nine total goals matched a league record set last season in Montreal’s 6-3 victory over Ottawa on Feb. 24.
Maddie Rooney stopped 21 of 24 shots on goal for the Frost, who have won four straight against Toronto dating to last season’s playoffs after they trailed 2-0 in the playoff-opening series.
“I feel like everyone on this team knows their role but also knows that you can be put in any other position and go out there and win,” Heise said. “I just think that we’re built up and we’ve seen what it takes to win now. Obviously, we want that feeling again, and it just takes everyone at this point to do that.”
Curl-Salemme’s second goal broke a 3-3 tie early in the third period, and Cava’s consecutive goals broke it open. Claire Butorac scored to make it 1-0 for the Frost in the first period, and Dominique Petrie gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead in the second.
Cava and Petrie each have a team-high three goals in three games; Heise leads the team with three assists.
“We came out buzzing. Our forecheck was on, our D (defense) had good gaps, and we were getting pucks to the net,” Frost coach Ken Klee said. “We knew they would push; come second period, it was up and down a lot with chances both ways.
“I was really proud of our squad for the third period. We really hunkered down, played the right way, limited their chances, and when we do that, we know we’re going to get chances.”
Former Badgers Jesse Compher and Daryl Watts scored for the Sceptres, as did Victoria Bach. Kristin Campbell stopped 30 of 35 shots for Toronto. Watts’ goal gave Toronto a 3-2 lead before Curl-Salemme tied it before the second intermission.
Minnesota was playing without defender Maggie Flaherty, who served the first of a two-game suspension for a headshot on Boston’s Alina Mueller in Wednesday’s game.
The Frost are home Thursday for a 7 p.m. puck drop against Ottawa at Xcel Energy Center.
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