PWHL-leading Toronto clinches playoff berth, wins in OT before record crowd in Montreal

Sarah Nurse scored twice, including the overtime winner, and Kristen Campbell made 37 saves as visiting Toronto defeated Montreal 3-2 before a record crowd in the Professional Women's Hockey League on Saturday afternoon at the Bell Centre.

The 21,105 attendance set a high-water mark for a women's hockey game, exceeding the 19,285 set when the same two teams met at Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 16.

The previous record of 18,013 at the 2013 world championship in Ottawa stood for a decade before the PWHL started this year.

Fans of all ages — some hoisting signs that read "Girls Hockey Rules" and "2033 PWHL Draft Eligible" — waved white towels, wore flashing bracelets and roared from the top of their lungs throughout the afternoon at the home of the NHL's Canadiens.

Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin, one of hockey's all-time greats, received a deafening standings ovation followed by chants of "Pou! Pou! Pou!" when introduced in the starting lineup.

Toronto not only played spoiler, but also clinched a playoff berth with the victory.

WATCH | Nurse scores decisive goal 13 seconds into overtime to beat Montreal:

Blayre Turnbull also scored for the league-leading visitors (10-4-0-7), who beat Montreal for a fifth time this season. Emma Maltais had two assists.

Erin Ambrose and Sarah Bujold replied for Montreal (8-3-5-5). Ann-Renée Desbiens, who received a raucous ovation of her own, made 30 saves.

Nurse received a pass from Renata Fast before firing a shot over Desbiens' shoulder 13 seconds into the 3-on-3 overtime period.

Montreal had a chance to win late in regulation, jumping on the power play with 2:55 remaining in the third after Jocelyne Larocque tripped up Poulin, but couldn't convert to break the 2-2 tie.

Montreal moved