By Canadian Press

Six defeat Whale 3-0 in Game 3 showdown to punch ticket to PHF title game in Arizona

Mar 20, 2023 | 5:21 PM

TORONTO — The Toronto Six, who were one overtime goal away on Saturday from elimination in the Premier Hockey Federation playoffs, are heading to Arizona this weekend to play for the Isobel Cup.

The Six defeated the Connecticut Whale 3-0 on Monday night at Mattamy Athletic Centre to win the third and deciding game of their best-of-three semifinal series to advance to Sunday’s winner-take-all final at Tempe’s Mullett Arena against the surprising Minnesota Whitecaps.

Kati Tabin had a power-play goal and two assists for the Six on Monday, while Michela Cava had a goal and assist. Leah Lum added the other goal.

The Six led 1-0 after the first period and took a 2-0 lead into the final frame.

Elaine Chuli stopped 31 shots to post the shutout.

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The Whale won Game 1 of the series 5-3 on Friday, and led Game 2 on Saturday 2-1 in the second period before the Six rallied with two goals, including an overtime marker by Emma Woods at 2:31 of the extra period.

The Toronto Six finished second in the seven-team women’s professional hockey loop this season, eight points ahead of the third-place Whale.

Most puck pundits expected to see a Six-Boston Pride showdown for the Isobel Cup championship, but the Whitecaps swept the Pride in their best-of-three series with 5-2 and 4-1 victories.

The Whitecaps finished fourth during the regular season, 18 points behind the Six, and 21 behind the top-ranked Pride.

POKE CHECKS: Sunday’s final starts at 9 p.m. ET and can be seen live on TSN5. … The Whitecaps won the Isobel Cup in 2018-19, and were runners-up in 2021. … The Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Cup, often shortened to Isobel Cup, is awarded annually to the PHF playoff winner. It is named after Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy, one of the first known women to play the game and daughter of Lord Stanley, the namesake of the Stanley Cup, and former governor general of Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2023.

The Canadian Press