Game Preview: Montréal vs. Toronto (PWHL Takeover Weekend)

PWHL Toronto and PWHL Montréal have traveled to Pittsburgh as part of the PWHL's Takeover Weekend. The puck drops at 12:30 PM.

Doors open at 11:30 AM.

Rally towels will be distributed to fans in attendance upon entry.

The game is available to watch on Sportsnet Pittsburgh Plus and on the PWHL's YouTube channel.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprised of six teams in Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto, each with rosters featuring the best women’s hockey players in the world.

This is one of a few neutral site games designed to grow the game and hopefully expand in future seasons.

This particular matchup is set to be the highest-attended women's hockey game in Pittsburgh history.

Toronto and Montréal's rosters have a combined 18 Olympians, with participants from the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 Games.

PWHL merchandise will be available at PensGear.

The Pittsburgh Pennies, the city's first women's hockey team (founded in 1972), will be in attendance.

Game Notes

Toronto (+9) issecondin goal differential andMontréal(+1) ranks third. Toronto (2.69) is first in goals-per-game average andMontréal(2.41) ranks fourth. Toronto (2.13) have allowed the second fewestgoals-per-game andMontréal(2.35) allows the third fewest on average.

Both Toronto andMontréalhave scored the game’s first goal 10 times with Toronto going on to win nine of their games compared to eight wins forMontréal.

Both teams are strongest offensively in the third period with Toronto leading the league with 17 goals in the final frame, followed by 16 forMontréal.

Montréalhas the most one-goal wins with seven in nine games, Toronto has four wins in five one-goal decisions.

Toronto (+48)is second in shot differential andMontréal(-41) ranks fifth.

Toronto (29.19) is third in shots-per-game average andMontréal(27.82) ranks fifth. Toronto (26.13) allows the second fewest shots-per-game andMontréal(30.35) allows the second most on average.

Toronto has outshot its opponents 11 times andMontréalnine times.

Montréal(7.53) averages the second most penalty minutes per game and Toronto (6.75) averages the third most.

Toronto (5/45) is third in powerplay efficiency at 11.1%, while Montréal (5/58) ranks fifth on the PP at 8.6%.

Toronto (45/47) is first in penalty kill efficiency at 95.7%, while Montréal(48/59) ranks fourth on the PK at 81.4%.

Marie-Philip Poulin(MTL) is second in league scoring with 17 points. Natalie Spooner(TOR) leads the league with 12 goals. Spooneralso leads the league with four powerplay goals. Emma Maltais(TOR) leads the league with two shorthanded goals.

Claire Dalton(MTL) leads the league with a 29.4% shooting percentage.

TerezaVanišová (MTL) is tied for the league-lead with eight minor penalties.

Laura StaceyleadsMontréalwith 67 shots on goal. Spooner leads Toronto with 63 shots.

Poulin(212/370) leadsMontréalin face-offs and with a win-rate of 57.3%. Sarah Nurse (102/207) leads Toronto with a face-off percentage of 49.3%. Blayre Turnbull(42.1%) leads the team with 235 draws.

Ann-Renée Desbiens(MTL) has won five of her 11 starts with a goals-against-average of 2.32 and save percentage of .919.

Kristen Campbell(TOR) has won 11 of her 15 starts including 10 straight, leads the league with three shutouts, and carries a 2.00 GAA and .924 SV%.

Brittany Howard(TOR) is serving her one-game suspension.

Welcome Back, Kori!

Kori Cheverie, head coach of PWHL Montréal, has served as a guest coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2023.24 season as part of the National Hockey League Coaches' Association Guest Coach Program.

Read more about Cheverie's experience in Pittsburgh: Kori Cheverie Taking 'Amazing' Experience as Guest Coach with Pittsburgh to New Role as Head Coach with PWHL Montreal

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