Entering Game 4 in Minnesota, Toronto would receive the unfortunate news that Natalie Spooner’s season was over with a knee injury. Rebecca Leslie would slot in on line two next to Blayre Turnbull and Hannah Miller. Jesse Compher registered the first shot on goal 2:15 into the first period, as Toronto and Minnesota played low event hockey. About five minutes into regulation, Toronto’s third line had a great shift where they forechecked hard and sustained offensive zone time but were not able to create a quality shot on goal. Despite both defenses playing tight, Toronto generated a 3-on-2 a few minutes later, but Taylor Heise made a great play to break it up. Grace Zumwinkle was sprung on a breakaway and launched a Howitzer of a slap shot that trickled through Campbell’s five hole and barely missed the net at 11:40 into the period. Little over four minutes later, Zumwinkle walked the puck to the front of the net and wristed it but was denied again. It was an extremely sloppy period for both offenses, making too many turnovers and neither were able to get to the inside of the ice. Minnesota led in shots, 5-3.

Toronto came out hot with solid offensive zone time for the first few minutes in the second period, which led to several scoring chances that included a Compher redirect that missed wide and a great save on Hannah Miller in front of the net on a feed from Sarah Nurse. Turnbull crushed Maggie Flaherty as the F1 behind Minnesota’s net, as Toronto’s relentless forecheck started to pay dividends. Despite all of the offensive zone time for Toronto, their momentum would be cut by a tripping call on Munroe. Nurse skated the puck into the offensive zone on the penalty kill and drew a penalty guarding the puck leading to a 4-on-4. Five minutes into the frame, Taylor Heise made an absolute highlight reel dangle. She entered the offensive zone by toe dragging the puck around a defender, pulling it to her back hand across the middle of the ice and then corralling it and whipping it off her forehand. However, a sprawling Toronto defender managed to block the puck and it chipped just over the net. Both teams continued to volley ice position till Turnbull got the puck off the rush and ripped it at the net but Rooney gloved it to keep it scoreless. Minnesota and Toronto each had another opportunity on the power play, but both failed to score and shots were tied at nine at the end of the second stanza.

For the first few minutes of the third period, play was reminiscent of the first period. Minnesota manufactured the first scoring chance off of Heise teeing up a pass to Zumwinkle but nothing came of it. About seven minutes in, Turnbull cut to the center of the ice while entering the offensive zone, but Compher interfered with a Minnesota defenseman and negated the scoring chance. On the power play, there were several scoring chances including an open Abby Boreen walking the net short side and a Sophie Jacques’ blast from the point through traffic but both were stopped. In the middle of those chances, Toronto had a golden opportunity shorthanded and almost scored a jailbreak but Rooney made an excellent desperation save on Kaitlin Willoughby’s one-timer. Campbell continued to make saves and regulation ended in a 0-0 draw with Minnesota dominating shots in the third 14-2, the game was headed to overtime. 

Minnesota had the first several scoring chances in the extra stanza between Liz Scheper’s just missing the net on a one-timer and Heise’s wraparound. Flaherty threw a gigantic hit on Brittany Howard in the neutral zone and shortly afterwards Nurse appeared to hurt Natalie Buchbinder with a huge hit behind the net forechecking but she shook it off and stayed in the game. Toronto dictated the pace in the back half of the period, Rooney stood tall. She made a shoulder save off of a streaking Connors and a few minutes stopped Turnbull again. Rooney ended up misplaying the puck a few minutes later behind the net but her defense bailed her out. Shots in the overtime finished in favor of Toronto 6-5. 

Toronto controlled play for the first few minutes of the fifth frame. This was best exemplified by the play in which Rooney had to make an incredible save on a one-timer from Miller to Nurse. Eventually, Minnesota was able to finally get the puck out and into the offensive zone and set up the game-winning goal. Jacques shot the puck wide off the board from the point. Schepers quickly passed the puck between her legs towards the front of the net and Claire Butorac tucked it home to win 1-0. Jacques registered her first playoff point and Schepers had the primary assist on all three of Minnesota’s goals in the series. Friday night will decide which team plays Boston in the Walter Cup finals. The home team is 4-0 in this series. Will home ice play a part for Toronto? In any event, I imagine Game 5 will be another close hard fought game.