Claire Butorac scored a goal early in the second overtime Wednesday night, giving Minnesota a 1-0 victory over Toronto and a decisive Game 5 of the semifinal series.
It was the fourth consecutive shutout in the series, but it was the first time the game went into overtime. The home team won each game in Game 5 in Toronto on Friday.
The winner of No. 1 seed Toronto and No. 4 seed Minnesota will face No. 3 seed Boston for the inaugural PWHL Championship. Boston defeated Montreal with three overtime wins.
Butorac scored on a loose puck in front of the goal 4:27 into the second overtime period. Sophie Jacks picked up a bounce off Liz Shepards' boards and deflected it backwards through her legs before firing the puck from the point behind the net. The puck bounced off the side of the net and Butorac came forward to clean it up.
Minnesota goaltender Maddie Rooney made 19 saves, earning her second consecutive shutout. Toronto's Kristen Campbell made 28 saves, including 14 in the third period that sent the game into overtime. Butorac's goal was Minnesota's only shot in the second overtime period.
Both teams combined for five penalties and went 0-for-20 on the power play in the series.
Toronto played without Natalie Spooner, the league's leading scorer with 20 points during the regular season. She injured her knee in the previous game and is absent from the playoffs.
Minnesota will face Toronto in Game 4 of the Women's Professional Hockey League semifinal series on Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Gracie Stockton | MPR News
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