Taylor Heise scored in overtime after a two-goal effort by Kendall Coyne Schofield and the defending champion Minnesota Frost eliminated the second-seeded Toronto Sceptres with a 4-3 victory on Wednesday night.
Minnesota — the fourth and final seed in both postseasons — rallied from two goals down to become the first team in the league’s two seasons to win a best-of-five series in less than five after splitting the first two matches in Toronto. The Frost’s only home loss in the regular season and postseason came in Game 4 of the finals for the Walter Cup against the Boston Fleet last season — and that was a 1-0 loss in double overtime.
Julia Gosling staked Toronto to a 1-0 lead 5:28 into the match and the Sceptres carried the advantage through the first period. It was Gosling’s third goal of the series. Emma Woods notched her second assist and Anna Kjellbin her first.
Toronto took a two-goal lead at 10:33 in the second when Hannah Miller scored for the first time in the series. Natalie Spooner snagged her first assist.
WATCH | Heise scores in OT as Frost top Sceptres, advancing to PWHL final:
The reigning Walter Cup champions will have a chance to defend their title as Taylor Heise’s overtime goal lifts Minnesota to a 4-3 victory over Toronto to win their semifinal series 3-1. The Frost will face either the Montreal Victoire or the Ottawa Charge in the PWHL Finals.
Coyne Schofield scored 14 seconds later to get Minnesota within a goal. Heise tallied her sixth assist and Michela Cava her first on Coyne Schofield’s first netter this postseason.
Kelly Pannek scored for the first time in the series with 1:12 left in the period to tie it a 2-all. Brooke McQuigge had her first assist and Mellissa Channell-Watkins her third.
Coyne Schofield’s second goal tied it at 8:33 on another assist from Cava and the third of the series from Sophie Jacques. Heise scored the winner unassisted with four minutes left in OT.
Nicole Hensley finished with 26 saves in goal for Minnesota.
Carly Jackson totalled 22 saves for Toronto.
Lower-seeded teams are 14-6 so far in two postseasons. Ottawa leads top-seed Montreal 2-1 in the other series. Game 4 is Friday in Ottawa.
WATCH | Frost beat Sceptres in Game 3 of PWHL semifinal:
Minnesota beats Toronto 7-5 in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series. Brooke McQuigge and Michela Cava each score twice.
