PWHL Toronto fails to clinch playoff spot in narrow loss to Boston

Emily Brown scored her first career goal, Susanna Tapani had a goal and an assist, and Boston returned from a 24-day international break to beat Toronto 2-1 on Thursday night.

Boston (5-4-2-9) is in fifth place with 25 points, two behind Ottawa for the fourth and final playoff spot.

Toronto (10-3-0-7), which entered as the league's best road team with six wins and 16 points in nine games, needs just one point to clinch a playoff berth.

Brown gave Boston a 1-0 lead with 5:32 left in the second period when she sent a backhand shot through traffic and between the pads of Kristen Campbell.

WATCH | Toronto loses to Boston as PWHL returns to action:

Boston doubled its lead a little more than three minutes later when Tapani tipped home Jess Healey's shot from just outside the crease for her fourth goal of the season.

Toronto had a power-play opportunity with 2:45 left in the third but managed just one shot, including a 6-on-4 chance.

Both teams entered the break with losses.

On Sunday Tapani helped Finland clinch its 14th bronze medal, and first since 2021, at the world championship.