Spooner helps Toronto crush Ottawa's PWHL playoff hopes in regular-season finale

Natalie Spooner scored twice in Toronto's 5-2 win over Ottawa in the Professional Women's Hockey League regular-season finale Sunday in Toronto.

Ottawa's playoff hopes in the PWHL's inaugural season were crushed by the loss as the club needed a regulation win to reach the post-season.

Spooner scored a go-ahead goal for Toronto with 5:43 left in the third period.

She finished the regular season atop the PWHL leaderboard in points (27) and goals (20).

Sarah Nurse also scored for Toronto (13-4-0-7) and Victoria Bach and Samantha Cogan added empty-net goals. Goalie Kristen Campbell made 41 saves in the win.

.<a href="https://twitter.com/natspooner5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@natspooner5</a> WITH HER 19TH GOAL OF THE SEASON!! <a href="https://t.co/tXWSMVzFVk">https://t.co/tXWSMVzFVk</a> <a href="https://t.co/K5pRQ22En9">pic.twitter.com/K5pRQ22En9</a>

Toronto had already secured first place and has a choice of semifinal opponent between third-place Boston (8-4-3-9) and fourth-place Minnesota (8-4-3-9).

Toronto opens its first-round series Wednesday at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Montreal (10-3-5-6) finished second and starts playoffs Thursday at Place Bell in Laval, Que.

Gabbie Hughes and Daryl Watts scored for Ottawa (8-1-6-9). Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 27 shots.

Ottawa was the only team to win its season series against Toronto, going 3-0-0-2 this season.

Spooner opened the scoring just 1:05 into the contest.

Maschmeyer made a diving save on Hannah Miller who picked up the rebound behind the net and sent a pass in front to Spooner who buried it home.

Hughes knotted the contest at 9:38 of the first period. Hayley Scamurra dished a centring pass to a streaking Hughes who made good on the play tapping it past Campbell.

Nurse restored