Toronto arrived at 3M Arena at Mariucci on Tuesday night as the hottest team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

That designation belonged to Minnesota early in the season, and it knew going in that ending Toronto’s five-game winning streak would go a long way in getting its season back on track.

But the losing ways continued as Toronto extended its winning streak with a 4-3 overtime victory. Minnesota has lost seven of its last nine games, including two in overtime.

Sarah Nurse’s second goal of the game was the game-winner and came after Sophie Jacques’ second goal of the game tied the game for Minnesota in the final minute of regulation after pulling its goaltender.

“The good news is we only gave up one point,” said Minnesota coach Ken Klee. “We got one, they got two. But, it was just one of those games. We were out-chancing them. I think they only had two shots in the third, and one of them went in.

“It’s one of the games where you know it is going to be tight. We just have to find a way to bury pucks.”

Minnesota had scored two goals or less in its last eight games. It last scored three goals in a game on January 27, a 4-3 overtime loss.

“It’s tough,” said Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield. “We haven’t been on the winning end of things lately, and it just feels like it’s piling on. It’s not like we’ve been playing bad. There’s just little things we have to clean up.

“At this level the little things come back to bite you in the butt. That’s what’s happened the last few times we’ve lost.”

Minnesota, which was shut out 2-0 by Boston on Sunday at Xcel Energy Center, once again was without injured forwards Taylor Heise and Liz Schepers. Looking to produce more offense, Klee spoke prior to the game about the need to create more traffic in front of the opposing net.

Minnesota showed improvement in that area, but true scoring chances remained at a premium. All three of Minnesota’s goals were scored by defensemen.

“All the goalies in this league are so good that if you don’t get traffic it’s going to be tough to score,” Klee said. “It was an emphasis for us (Tuesday), and you pay a price. You get cross-checked in the back.

“It’s a hard thing for forwards to do. But when they do it we can score goals.”

Blayre Turnbull gave Toronto a 1-0 lead at 5:43 of the first period when she snuck a wrist shot through the pads of Minnesota goaltender Nicole Hensley.

Minnesota tied the game less than two minutes later. Jacques moved in from the right point to beat Toronto goalie Kristen Campbell on a backhander from just off the crease for her first goal of the season.

Minnesota’s Lee Stecklein took a penalty in the first minute of the second period, and Toronto scored on the power play to take a 2-1 lead. Kali Flanagan beat Hensley on a slap shot from the blue line for her second goal of the season.

Natalie Buchbinder’s first goal of the season pulled Minnesota even at 11:33. Buchbinder’s slap shot from the right point hit a couple of Toronto sticks in the slot before beating Campbell just under the crossbar.

Nurse scored with five minutes to play in the third period to put Toronto ahead 3-2, and it looked like it would be the game-winner until Jacques’ heroics in the final minute.

Briefly

>> The teams split the first two meetings of the season, with Minnesota winning 3-1 at Xcel January 10 and Toronto winning 4-1 at home on February 3.

>> The PWHL announced on Tuesday that it will hold its second player draft in June. Players will be able to declare for the seven-round draft between March 1 and May 8.  Any players who declare and are not selected will become free agents.