Lee Stecklein shone with two goals and an assist as the Minnesota Frost triumphed over the Toronto Sceptres 5-3 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night. This victory marked a strong comeback for the Frost after their 3-2 loss in Game 1 earlier in the week.
The game was tightly contested, with the Sceptres initially taking a 1-0 lead thanks to a deflected shot from Hayley Scamurra. However, the Frost responded powerfully in the second period, netting three goals, including a power-play goal from Stecklein. The Sceptres retaliated, with Savanah Harmon and Allie Munroe scoring goals within just 27 seconds of each other to level the score at 3-3.
The pivotal moment came late in the third period when Sophie Jacques, a Toronto native, broke the tie, scoring with just over six minutes remaining. Mellissa Channell-Watkins sealed the game with another goal on the power play in the final minute.
In addition to Stecklein’s impressive performance, Michela Cava added to the scoring for the defending champion Frost, while goaltender Maddie Rooney made 27 saves. On the other end, Kristin Campbell halted 20 shots for the Sceptres.
Notably, the game attracted a significant crowd, including tennis legend Billie Jean King, who received an enthusiastic standing ovation for her contributions to the PWHL.
Looking ahead, Game 3 of the best-of-five semifinal series will take place in Minnesota on Sunday night, where the Frost will aim to secure a crucial win and leverage their momentum from this match.