Flat offensive struggle as winner of Tapani Net wins victory over Sceptres

Susanna Tapani scored the game-winning goal with 9:40 remaining as the Boston Fleet upset the Toronto Raptors’ home opener with a 3-1 victory Saturday in Professional Women’s Hockey League action.

Abby Newhook, with a goal and an assist, and Elena Mueller, with an empty-netter, also scored for Boston (2-0-0-0). Erin Frankel stopped 24 shots.

Blayre Turnbull scored for Toronto (1-0-0-1). Reagan Kirk took 10 wickets.

Turnbull opened the scoring when he took the puck off the side boards and into the roof for a shorthanded goal at 6:26 of the opening period.

Newhook caught a Toronto defender, resulting in a two-on-one rush with Jill Saulnier. Saulnier’s shot off a Newhook pass was intercepted by Kirk, but the rebound went off Newhook’s skate and tied the score at 14:12 of the second period.

With 49.2 seconds left, Natalie Spooner was blocked on a wraparound shot and Turnbull had a chance in front when Frankel got a header but was unable to score.

Sectors: Toronto signed forward Lauren Messier to a 10-day contract earlier Saturday. Star forward Daryl Watts was ruled out with an upper body injury and was listed as day-to-day. Sceptres were captured, but constantly passed when trying to create high-risk opportunities, or Frankel closed the door.

Flatt: When Boston held the fort defensively, offense was hard to come by. Fleet mustered just two shots on goal in the opening period despite two power play opportunities. They finished with 12 shots overall, a far cry from the 28 shots on net in their 2-0 season-opening win over Montreal on Sunday.

Jamie Lee Rattray won a puck battle on the final boards and fired the puck into the slot behind the goal with one hand on his stick. Pike found a pistol, which he fired over Kirk to silence the home crowd.

Toronto’s power play was zero-for-six to start this season after leading the league last season (25.8 percent). The Scepters had at least one power play goal in four of their six games against Fleet last season.

Sceptres: Host Ottawa Charge on Thursday.

Flats: Host Vancouver Goldeneyes on Wednesday.