Carly Jackson earns victory in 1st PWHL start, helping Sceptres pad 2nd-place lead

It was a fun night for Carly Jackson.

The 27-year-old third-string goaltender from Amherst, N.S., made 25 saves in her first-ever start and PWHL appearance in the Toronto Sceptres' 2-1 shootout victory on Tuesday night over the visiting New York Sirens.

Jackson stopped all four shots in the shootout with Natalie Spooner scoring the winner.

"I had so much fun," Jackson said. "I know I'm going to sleep really good tonight. But everything I felt today was just contagious. And to be honest, it wasn't different from a normal day with how my teammates showed up for me and respected me and found a way to win.

"I just feel really excited and proud that I got to physically contribute tonight. I had a lot of fun."

The win helped Toronto, which already clinched a playoff berth, move three points ahead of the Boston Fleet for second place in the standings. The Sceptres play their regular-season finale on Saturday against the Ottawa Charge.

"Obviously we would have liked to win in regulation, but there's a better story there when it gets to the shootout for the whole side game of CJ playing," Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan said. "It just added to some excitement.

"They were very similar to how you would see after a championship game [in the dressing room]. And it had nothing to do with the win. It was a celebration for CJ and everything she's brought to this team."

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Despite not getting playing time, Jackson is a fan favourite, and among the team's more popular players, for her personality and style. But the "best" teammate Jackson is also made the win special, according to