PHF Playoffs: Toronto Six blank Connecticut Whale for first Isobel Cup appearance
By Tina Nguyen
After dropping Game 1, the Toronto Six took two games in a row to eliminate the Connecticut Whale and advance in the PHF Playoffs to their first Isobel Cup.
The Toronto Six have done it. They are headed to the Isobel Cup finals for the first time in franchise history after shutting out the Connecticut Whale in an elimination Game 3. After tying up the semifinals series on Saturday to stave off elimination, Toronto came out determined to take control in a do-or-die matchup.
The first period saw the Six take the lead with a wrap-around goal by Michela Cava at 5:21, her third goal of the playoffs. The Whale tried to answer back — coming close with a shot off the post and out right along the goal line — but Toronto goaltender Elaine Chuli shut them down with some stellar saves.
“She (Chuli) gets going, you can’t beat her early — it gets harder as the game goes on,” Whale coach Colton Orr pointed out.
“The entire season, she’s been a brick wall back there and that’s huge … it gives our team the confidence to do what we do,” Six captain Shiann Darkangelo said of Chuli. “She makes some unbelievable saves to keep us in it, keep the momentum going in our direction.”
In the second period, forward Leah Lum gave the Six a 2-0 lead with a beautiful top-shelf shot off a feed from Cava.
“We have a lot of great players, Leah being one,” said Darkangelo. “She can see the ice, she can possess the puck, so I really have confidence in whoever I’m out there with to get the job done.”
The Whale continued to push back, but Chuli and the Six were up to the task once again, keeping them off the scoreboard.
“It’s do-or-die, so everybody’s out there giving it their all…the biggest thing is keeping our composure and keeping the gas down so we don’t let up the lead,” said Darkangelo.
“We gave it our all, we really did. I think the group gave everything they had here, we left it all out there. I couldn’t ask for any more,” said Orr. “We just couldn’t find a way. We had chances — we end up outshooting them, we out-chanced them. We had an opportunity and just didn’t finish today.”
Halfway into the third, Kati Tabin put the nail in the coffin with a power-play slapshot goal to give the Six a 3-0 lead. From there, it was just a matter of time before Toronto punched their ticket to the Isobel Cup finals.
“That definitely swung in our favor there at the end,” said Darkangelo, emphasizing the importance of Toronto’s third goal. “I think that gave us a jolt of energy, where [a] 2-goal [is] the worst lead in hockey and it’s in the back of your mind to put another one in.”
Chuli was named player of the game for her perfect night in net, stopping all 31 shots that came her way.
“I was super proud of the way we battled today, I think that was probably one of the best games I’ve seen this group play this year,” said Chuli.
It was a complete team effort from the Six, who now have a chance to bring the Isobel Cup to Toronto for the first time.
“It’s awesome, we’re not done yet though, so I don’t want to get too ahead of myself,” said Darkangelo. “It’s super exciting to be able to lead this group through this and go to Arizona.”
The Six will face off against the Minnesota Whitecaps in Tempe, Arizona at Mullett Arena on March 26. It promises to be an exciting matchup, and the Six will need to bring their A-game if they hope to take home the championship. But for now, they can celebrate their historic win over the Whale as they look forward to the biggest game of their season.
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