TORONTO (Interstat) — Blayre Turnbull scored in the final minute of the third period, and the Toronto Sceptres defeated the Ottawa Charge 3-1 on Dec. 4 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in a Professional Women’s Hockey League game. Toronto improved to 2-1-0, while Ottawa fell to 1-3-0.

Ottawa struck first in the opening period. Fanuza Kadirova scored at 1:45, with Samantha Isbell and Anna Shokhina providing assists. The Charge held the lead despite spending much of the period shorthanded. Sarah Wozniewicz was sent off for interference at 4:36, Peyton Hemp received a charging penalty at 9:56, and Jocelyne Larocque was called for hooking at 17:06. Kadirova finished with one goal on one shot. Shokhina had one assist, and Isbell recorded one assist and one shot. Ottawa’s early goal stood as the only scoring in the first period.

Toronto responded in the second. Daryl Watts tied the game at 2:22, with Allie Munroe and Anna Kjellbin assisting. The goal came after Ottawa’s Larocque was called for obstruction-tripping at 0:34, giving Toronto a power-play chance. The Sceptres then moved ahead at 12:59 when Natalie Spooner scored, assisted by Watts and Emma Maltais. Watts ended with one goal, one assist and four shots on goal. Spooner had one goal, five shots and one hit. Maltais added one assist, four shots and two hits. Munroe finished with one assist and one shot. Toronto’s pressure produced the go-ahead goal and shifted momentum after Ottawa’s fast start.

Penalties continued to affect Ottawa’s rhythm. Larocque was called for delay of game at 8:30 of the second. Emily Clark received a holding penalty at 16:25. Toronto’s Jesse Compher was whistled for obstruction-tripping at 18:07. Ottawa finished with six minor penalties, while Toronto had one. Larocque accounted for three of Ottawa’s penalties, including two in the second period. The Sceptres protected their one-goal lead into the third period and then added insurance. Turnbull scored at 19:20, assisted by Claire Dalton, to make it 3-1. Turnbull, Toronto’s top star, posted one goal, five shots on goal and one hit. Dalton had one assist and two shots. Renata Fast contributed two shots and one hit for the Sceptres.

Toronto scored three unanswered goals after Kadirova’s opener. Watts tied the game in the second, Spooner put the Sceptres ahead, and Turnbull sealed the win in the third. The Charge could not build on their early lead, and Toronto’s penalty kill handled Ottawa’s only power play. Watts, Spooner, Turnbull and Maltais consistently generated Toronto’s offense. Ottawa’s best chances came early, but the Charge did not score again after Kadirova’s first-period goal. Toronto also kept Ottawa off the scoreboard for the final 40 minutes. The Sceptres’ forecheck forced Ottawa to defend for long stretches, and Toronto’s puck possession helped close out the game.

The win gave Toronto its second victory of the season and dropped Ottawa to its third loss. Toronto had lost to Boston in its most recent game before this matchup, while Ottawa had fallen to Minnesota in its previous outing. The Charge had also beaten Vancouver earlier in the season, but they could not carry that form into this road game. Toronto improved its home result after a recent setback and moved above .500. Ottawa remained at the bottom of its early-season standings with one win.

Toronto will next visit Montreal, while Ottawa will next travel to Vancouver. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Toronto later in the month. Toronto will also host Montreal in Halifax and visit New York before facing Ottawa again. Ottawa will continue a road stretch that includes Vancouver, Seattle and Minnesota before returning to Toronto.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Toronto with a 58.5 percent probability to win.