Montreal and Toronto Women's Hockey Teams Set Attendance Record with Playoff Implications

The Montreal and Toronto women's hockey teams played in front of a record-breaking crowd of 21,105 fans at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday. The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) game had significant playoff implications, with Toronto clinching the league's first playoff spot after defeating Montreal 3-2 in overtime.

Toronto star forward Sarah Nurse scored twice, including the game-winning goal just 13 seconds into the extra frame. "It was an incredible atmosphere," Nurse said after the game. "To have that many people supporting women's hockey, it's a dream come true. This is what we play for."

The sellout crowd surpassed the previous record of 19,285 set when the same two teams met at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena on February 16. Multiple attendance records have fallen in the inaugural PWHL season, with Ottawa and Minnesota breaking marks for professional women's teams in the first week before Toronto set the overall record in February.

Despite the loss, the Montreal fans gave a standing ovation to the players, recognizing the historic significance of the event. Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin, one of hockey's all-time greats, received thunderous applause and chants from the crowd during the pregame introductions.

"It's hard to put into words," Poulin said of the experience. "To be able to share that with my teammates, in front of our fans, it's very special. It's bigger than ourselves and I think it's a movement."

Why this matters: The record-breaking attendance and passionate support from fans is a testament to the growing popularity and momentum of women's professional hockey. The PWHL's inaugural season has showcased the skill and excitement of the game, inspiring a new generation of players and fans.

The game featured a dominant performance by Montreal in the opening period, outshooting Toronto 17-8. However, Toronto goaltender Kristen Campbell kept her team in it, making several key saves. The back-and-forth affair saw the teams trade goals, with Montreal's Blayre Turnbull opening the scoring before Toronto's Erin Ambrose and Nurse responded. Montreal's Poulin tied it up late in the third period to force overtime, where Nurse sealed the victory for Toronto. The win moved Toronto three points ahead of Minnesota and Montreal in the PWHL standings with just two

Key Takeaways

• Record-breaking crowd of 21,105 at PWHL game in Montreal
• Toronto defeated Montreal 3-2 in OT, clinching playoff spot
• Toronto's Sarah Nurse scored twice, including game-winner
• Attendance record surpassed previous mark set in Toronto
• Montreal's Poulin received thunderous applause from fans