CALGARY (Interstat) — Claire Dalton scored 57 seconds into the third period and Raygan Kirk made 28 saves as the Toronto Sceptres beat the Ottawa Charge 2-1 in a Professional Women’s Hockey League game on April 1 at Scotiabank Saddledome. Toronto improved to 10-15. Ottawa dropped to 13-11. The game was played in Calgary, with Ottawa listed as the home team and Toronto as the visitor. The final score was 2-1.

Maggie Connors opened the scoring 3:34 into the first period for Toronto. Blayre Turnbull and Dalton assisted on the play. The Sceptres then faced a series of penalties. Savannah Harmon was called for hooking at 11:55. Ottawa’s Kathryn Reilly was sent off for tripping at 14:05. Toronto’s Jesse Compher received an interference on the goaltender penalty at 14:58. Ottawa answered late in the period when Fanuza Kadirova scored at 18:34, with Reilly assisting. The goal tied the game before the first intermission.

The second period was scoreless. Toronto’s Emma Woods received a boarding penalty at 9:24. Ottawa pressured during the ensuing power play, but Kirk and the Sceptres’ penalty kill held firm. Brianne Jenner finished the game with five shots on goal for Ottawa. Rebecca Leslie recorded four shots. Kateřina Mrázová added three shots. Ottawa finished with 29 shots on goal. Toronto’s defenders, including Kali Flanagan and Harmon, helped limit clean looks from the slot.

The Sceptres’ penalty kill was busy throughout. Toronto was whistled for boarding, hooking, interference on the goaltender and high sticking. Ottawa received one tripping penalty. Neither team converted with the player advantage. Ottawa pressured in the second period, when Woods’ boarding penalty gave them time in the offensive zone. Kirk made several saves during that stretch, and Toronto’s defense blocked shots and forced play to the outside.

Dalton scored the winner at 00:57 of the third period. Connors and Turnbull assisted. The goal gave Toronto a 2-1 lead. Later in the period, Toronto’s Clara Van Wieren was penalized for high sticking at 15:40. Ottawa pushed for a tying goal, but Kirk made saves and Toronto cleared the puck. Kirk finished with 28 saves on 29 shots and picked up the win.

Connors was Toronto’s top star. She recorded one goal, one assist, six shots on goal and one hit. Turnbull contributed two assists and two shots. Dalton had one goal, one assist, one shot and two hits. Flanagan had two shots. Harmon had two shots and two penalty minutes. Toronto scored twice in the game. Toronto’s road win came in regulation.

Ottawa’s Kadirova scored and had two shots and one hit. Jenner had five shots and one hit. Mrázová had three shots. Leslie had four shots. Reilly had an assist and a tripping penalty. The Charge’s record moved to 13-11. Toronto’s record moved to 10-15. The Sceptres had lost their previous two games, while Ottawa had won its previous game. The teams had split their earlier meetings this season, with Ottawa winning the most recent in overtime. Toronto took a 2-1 lead in the season series with the win.

Toronto’s upcoming schedule includes a home game against Ottawa, followed by road games at New York and Minnesota, a home game against New York and a road game at Ottawa. Ottawa’s next games include a home game against Montreal, a home game against Seattle, a road game at Toronto, a home game against New York and a road game at Boston. The teams are set to meet again in Toronto before a later rematch in Ottawa.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Ottawa with a 52 percent probability to win the game.