海角社区官网Sceptres听苍别迟尘颈苍诲别谤 Kristen Campbell has always relished the pressures and responsibilities associated with the job, and knows the stakes are highest during the playoffs.
That’s why the 27-year-old Manitoba native is looking forward to the rematch against Minnesota Frost, with the five-game semifinal series opener taking place this Wednesday at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
鈥淏eing the last line of defence, just being able to be the difference between a win and a loss for your team, ultimately you kind of have that on your responsibility every night to make an impact,鈥 said Campbell after the team鈥檚 practice Tuesday.
鈥淚鈥檝e always loved that since I was little, so I always lean into that.鈥
Campbell and the Sceptres will need that confidence as they look to avenge a first-round collapse last year that began when 海角社区官网lost its best player, league-leading scorer and MVP Natalie Spooner, to a devastating knee injury.
The Sceptres finished the PWHL鈥檚 second season as the second seed, guaranteeing home ice advantage until at least the final.
Campbell, who won the league鈥檚 goalie of the year award last season, has had an up-and-down season聽鈥 pushing head coach Troy Ryan to call up backup goalies Raygan Kirk and Carly Jackson to step in at times this year. But she slowly picked up her pace and, despite a modest 9-8-3-1 record and .910 save percentage, she鈥檚 upbeat heading into another post-season filled with high expectations.
鈥淧ersonally, I feel like my game has never been in a better spot,鈥 she said about feeling calm and ready to face what鈥檚 ahead.
鈥淚 also feel like as a person I鈥檝e grown so much in ways of mentally just getting stronger and more resilient. .鈥
Part of the growth comes from having been there and knowing what to expect from an opponent that has become all too familiar. Minnesota鈥檚聽Michela Cava (four goals) and Britta Curl-Salemme (three are among the players who have scored multiple times against the Sceptres this season.
The team is especially aware of how Minnesota likes to strike first, usually scoring in the first few minutes of the game. While the defence can help mitigate that, Campbell is ready to meet the challenge head-on.
鈥淭hey get a lot of pucks on the net and they try to create second chances,鈥 she said about Minnesota鈥檚 attack. 鈥淚 feel like a strength of mine is my rebound control, just give them no second chances and really taking the momentum away from their top players by making those key saves at the right time.鈥
Another important lesson the Sceptres learned from last year鈥檚 debacle is how quickly the fortunes can turn. Toronto, then the league鈥檚 top seed, was up 2-0 in the series when Spooner鈥檚 injury happened and the team dropped the subsequent three games.
鈥淭he biggest thing is just managing the highs and the lows,鈥 said Campbell. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think any one single moment loses you a series but I think the quicker you can swing the momentum back in your favour you鈥檙e better off.鈥
Ryan isn鈥檛 worried about Campbell鈥檚 slow start and any rough stretches she had during the regular season, and he believes she will get the job done as the first option manning the net.
鈥淲e鈥檙e comfortable in our goaltending,鈥 he said, commending both Kirk and Jackson for stepping in when called upon and helping the team keep its run of success. 鈥淚鈥檓 confident in all three, if we鈥檝e got to use all three, we鈥檒l have to use all three.鈥
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