Tapani nets winner as Fleet beat Sceptres

TORONTO (AP) — Susanna Tapani scored the game-winning goal with 9:41 remaining as the Boston Fleet spoiled the Toronto Sceptres' home opener with a 3-1 win Saturday.

Abby Newhook also scored and Alina Mueller added an empty-netter for Boston. Aerin Frankel stopped 24 shots.

Blayre Turnbull scored for Toronto. Raygan Kirk made 10 saves.

Turnbull opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 6:26 of the opening period.

Newhook outhustled a Toronto defender for the puck, resulting in a 2-on-1 rush with Jill Saulnier. Saulnier's shot off a pass from Newhook was stopped by Kirk, but the rebound went off Newhook's skate and in at 14:10 of the second period to tie the score.

With 49.2 seconds left, Natalie Spooner was stopped on a wraparound shot and Turnbull had a chance in front while Frankel's head was turned but failed to score.

Toronto signed forward Lauren Messier to a 10-day contract earlier Saturday. Star forward Daryl Watts was sidelined with an upper-body injury and listed as day-to-day.

While Boston held the fort defensively, offense was hard to come by. The Fleet managed only two shots on goal in the opening period despite two power-play chances. They finished with 12 shots overall, a far cry from the 28 shots on net in their 2-0 season-opening win over Montreal on Sunday.

Up next

Fleet: Host the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Wednesday.

Sceptres: Host the Ottawa Charge on Thursday.