The Etobicoke Dolphins set the tone early and never looked back, securing a decisive 4-1 road victory over the London Devilettes. From the opening puck drop, the Dolphins applied relentless pressure, outshooting London 15-10 in the first period. Their efforts were rewarded just over seven minutes in when Madelyn Lubera found the back of the net, assisted by Renee Bishop and Spencer Vaccari. The Devilettes, hampered by a trio of first-period penalties to Tessa Burdett, Leah Milligan, and Colbie Farr, struggled to find their rhythm against Etobicoke's aggressive forecheck.
London showed a spark of life in the second period, with Alexandria McDonald tying the game at 1-1 off a feed from Katherine Cameron. However, the Dolphins responded with lightning speed. Just 23 seconds later, Grace Van Volsen restored the lead with the eventual game-winner, again set up by the effective duo of Bishop and Vaccari. The momentum fully shifted to Etobicoke's bench when Skylar Ruschpler extended the lead to 3-1, with Sydney Bowness picking up both assists on the play. The period was a chippy one, featuring four minor penalties, including a pair of roughing calls that saw London's Leah Milligan and Etobicoke's Spencer Vaccari sent off simultaneously.
Any hope of a London comeback was extinguished in the third period by the Dolphins' power play. With Leah Milligan in the box for body checking, Renee Bishop converted on the man advantage, capping a three-point night for herself and giving Vaccari his third assist of the contest. The Devilettes' Emma Kloosterman faced a barrage of 42 shots in the loss, while at the other end, Emeline Grennan was a steady presence for Etobicoke, turning aside 31 of 32 shots to backstop the win. The Dolphins' special teams proved to be the difference-maker, capitalizing on their chances while London's power play came up empty, sealing a well-earned two points for the visiting side.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875