Girard scores twice as Whale opens PHF semifinal with 5-3 win over Six

TORONTO — Taylor Girard scored the game-winning goal and added an empty-netter as the Connecticut Whale held on for a 5-3 win over the Toronto Six to open a Premier Hockey League semifinal series.

Girard gave the Whale a 4-1 lead with a short-handed goal 25 seconds into the third period.

Two goals from Toronto forward Michela Cava cut the Whale’s lead to 4-3, but the Six were unable to find an equalizer.

The Whale lead the best-of-three semifinal 1-0, with the next games scheduled for Saturday and Monday, if necessary, at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre.