Savannah Harmon put on a show on Thursday, recording five points, including a natural hat trick, to propel Team King to a 5-3 victory over Team Kloss at the Canadian Tire PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase.
The game took place at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto as part of NHL All-Star Thursday.
Harmon’s first point came as a primary assist, passing the puck to New York defender Ella Shelton on the rush. Shelton, who also scored the first-ever PWHL goal, tapped the puck behind Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer to give Team King a 1-0 lead just 59 seconds into the game.
With her team down 2-1, Harmon scored three straight goals for Team King, who then led 4-2.
Harmon’s first of three goals tied the game 2-2 with just 21 seconds remaining in the first period after temporary teammate Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) found the defender backdoor. Poulin, who was set up at the point, was able to thread the pass through traffic and onto Harmon’s stick for a quick tap-in goal past Ottawa teammate Maschmeyer.
Harmon, Ottawa’s fifth overall pick in the inaugural 2023 draft, benefited once again from a Poulin pass to net her second of the night and make the score 3-2 for her team. After Poulin’s original pass was broken up, she recovered the puck and fed Harmon in the slot who one-timed the puck past second period starter Nicole Hensley (MIN) to give Team King its second lead of the night.
Just 35 seconds later, at 3:40 of the second period, Harmon completed the natural hat trick, which gave her team a 4-2 lead. This time it was Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield who provided the assist. Coyne Schofield—who also donned the ‘C’ for Team King— put the puck across the crease with a backhand pass to Harmon, who cut back across to her forehand and put away her third straight tally.
Harmon capped off her impressive night with another assist— and her fifth point of the night— to give her team a 5-2 lead at 6:45 of the second period. Coyne Schofield, who was standing in front of Team Kloss’ net, potted her first of the game off a pass from Harmon who perfectly placed the puck on the forward’s stick.
Despite giving up the first goal of the game 59 seconds in, Team Kloss rebounded quickly after Alex Carpenter (NY) capitalized on a misplayed puck by Team King goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens (MTL). Carpenter, who is tied for the PWHL lead in points with nine, intercepted Desbiens’ attempted breakout pass and slid the puck in to tie the game 1-1 at 2:07.
Team Kloss then gained the 2-1 lead after defender Jocelyne Larocque (TOR) flexed her offensive prowess with a goal scored top corner on the breakaway. Larocque found herself in all alone from the red line after Carpenter hit her with a pass from Team Kloss’ defensive end.
With goaltender Nicole Hensley on the bench to give Team Kloss a 4-on-3 advantage, PWHL Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner brought her team to within two goals at 8:54 of the second and final frame. Jenner, who was named as Team Kloss’ captain by her teammates earlier in the day, made the score 5-3 with a goal on the rush. Laura Stacey (MTL) provided the feed to Jenner, who quickly one-timed the puck past Aerin Frankel (BOS).
It was the lone goal scored on Frankel who, with five minutes remaining in the second, made three saves in a row, including one on a breakaway, on PWHL first overall pick Taylor Heise (MIN) to preserve the two-goal lead for her team.
PWHL regular season action resumes on Saturday, February 3 at 12 p.m. ET when Toronto welcomes Minnesota to Mattamy Athletic Centre. Sunday has two games on the schedule – New York visits Ottawa at The Arena at TD Place for a 1 p.m. ET puck drop, followed by a Boston-Montréal matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Tsongas Center at UMASS Lowell.
“There’s not a lot of words to describe how it feels. I know it’s something that no-one in this group takes lightly. We’re just really proud to be in this position and to be here representing (the PWHL).” – Savannah Harmon on being part of NHL All-Star Thursday.
Notes:
- The game featured 24 PWHL players and consisted of two 10-minute periods of 3-on-3 play.
- Marie-Philip Poulin, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Hilary Knight (BOS) started the game for Team King — Brianne Jenner, Alex Carpenter and Jocelyne Larocque started for Team Kloss.
- Team King forwards Blayre Turnbull (TOR) and Alina Müller (BOS) each had two assists in the game — Renata Fast (TOR) had an assist for Team Kloss.
- Team King outshot Team Kloss 17-16 in the game.
- Coyne Schofield and Savannah Harmon each led Team King with 4 shots apiece — Taylor Heise also recorded four shots, the most on Team Kloss.
- Teammates scoring on teammates: Coyne Schofield scored on PWHL Minnesota teammate Nicole Hensley, Savannah Harmon scored on PWHL Ottawa teammate Emerance Maschmeyer.
- Harmon wasn’t on the ice for a single goal against, giving her a game-best +5 rating.
- Jenner was on the ice for every goal scored by her team, and none against, giving her a team-best +3 rating.
- Forwards Kelly Pannek (Hooking) and Taylor Heise (Slashing) took the game’s only penalties.
- The ceremonial puck drop was performed by Jayna Hefford (PWHL SVP of Hockey Operations), Amy Scheer (PWHL SVP of Business Operations), Cassie Campbell-Pascall (PWHL Senior Advisor/Team King Head Coach), Meghan Duggan (Team Kloss Head Coach/New Jersey Devils Director of Player Development), Jonquel Jones (Team Kloss Celebrity Coach/ 2021 WNBA MVP and New York Liberty forward), and Tessa Virtue (Team King Celebrity Coach/Olympic and World Champion Figure Skater).
- Boxscore
