Top 5 takeaways from Week 7 of the PWHL: Toronto steps up in the spotlight, Minnesota concerns

It was another week where women’s hockey was in the spotlight, leading to some exciting moments for both the game’s biggest stars and for some of some unheralded heroes who are still trying to establish themselves.

Let’s take a look back at some of the notable takeaways from the past week in the PWHL:

Sceptres step up at Scotiabank

I’ve been pretty outspoken about how disappointed I have been with the Toronto Sceptres so far this season. I’m tired of the conversation that the poor start is all because Natalie Spooner isn’t in the lineup.

However, the doubts have been slightly subsided thanks to a strong performance this past Saturday.

In front of a jam-packed Scotiabank Arena, the Sceptres put forth one of their best performances of the season against the New York Sirens in the second annual Battle on Bay Street. Toronto fed off the home crowd and controlled the game from the onset. Hannah Miller stayed hot with a couple of goals, and though things got a little tense, tied at two heading into the late stages of regulation, the Sceptres did enough to pull ahead and win 4-2.

Games like that show what this Sceptres game is capable of. They heavily outshot a playoff contender, and unlike games earlier this season, they converted on them. Though they still have some work to do in order to get into a playoff – two points back of New York as of today – a little bit of confidence from a big win on a big stage can be huge for this time.

Remember, Toronto’s win over Montreal in the first Battle on Bay Street was an enormous catapult in sending the team on its 11-game win streak.

Don’t look now, but Miller is tied with Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield for the most goals in the PWHL as well.

Hey, Sarah Nurse scored!

Along with great performances from Miller and Kali Flanagan on Saturday, the Sceptres also had one of their star players come through in the clutch.

Sarah Nurse, who hadn’t scored in over a month, scored the power-play goal that put Toronto in the lead with just a few minutes to go in regulation. The Hamilton native finished off a nice setup from Daryl Watts and Jesse Compher for her fourth goal of the season.

It was Nurse’s first goal in seven games.

Many expected the 30-year-old to pick up where Spooner left off last season, especially since Nurse was a big reason Spooner reached 20 goals in year one. However, Nurse, and the entire Toronto team for that matter, has struggled to find goals consistently. Seeing her score a key goal in a big moment is important in giving both the team and the player more confidence.

The single win took the Sceptres from almost last in the PWHL in goals scored to fourth.

Should we be concerned about Minnesota?

Yes, I’m writing this after the Minnesota Frost took care of the Boston Fleet with a 5-2 win on Sunday. However, while the victory put an end to the team’s three-game losing streak, it hasn’t brushed away this feeling that the Frost might be heading in the wrong direction.

I know what you’re saying. “Tyler, how could the team tied for first in the PWHL be in trouble?” Well, when you take into account that half of Minnesota’s wins are against one team (the Frost is 4-2-4 against teams not named the Fleet) and how the same issues that led to the team spiraling down the standings are starting to show again…you get a little concerned.

It was good to see Taylor Heise score twice against the Fleet because the first-ever draft pick in this league had also been snake-bitten in recent weeks. The team, in general, was just having bad puck luck during the skid, as they failed to score more than two goals in the three contests leading to this past Sunday.

So, sure, maybe I’m just overthinking the Frost’s sour streak. Maybe it can be attributed to a busy schedule. However, if Sunday’s result was a flash in the pan of a concerning trend…this league could have a whole different outlook coming out of the Rivalry Series break.

Philips filling in nicely

Goal scoring hasn’t been the Ottawa Charge’s strong suit this season (granted, it hasn’t been a strength in the team’s history). The team’s success has lived and died with its goaltending, which usually means Emerance Maschmeyer has had to stand on her head.

One difference from the inaugural season to this year is that it is clear Carla MacLeod doesn’t have to run her No. 1 netminder into the ground.

Rookie Gwyneth Philips was drafted to take the load off the Team Canada mainstay. Sure, she hasn’t played as much as a 1B goaltender would, but the Northeastern product has held her own, especially last Tuesday against the Frost. Philips went up against the PWHL’s top offense and turned away all 22 shots she faced.

Philips’ efforts in the Charge’s 1-0 win not only gave her the first win of her PWHL career but also made the 24-year-old the first true rookie to earn a shutout in her first victory.

With helping the Charge pick up four points in her first three starts of her career, I’d like to see her get a few more games, even as Ottawa continues to battle for a playoff spot.

Rivalry Series roster surprises

While this might not be technically PWHL-level stuff, several players are gearing up for the final leg of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series.

The Americans lead the series 2-1 heading into the final two games of the best-of-five next month, but with no college players able to play due to their NCAA seasons, the rosters will look a little different from the first window in November.

This is noticeable on the U.S. side, as Patty Kazmaier candidates and fellow Wisconsin Badgers, Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, and Kirsten Simms are unable to play. That has opened the door for Sceptres forward Jesse Compher, Sirens forward Gabby Rosenthal and Victoire defender Anna Wilgren to return to national team duty.

The one notable omission is Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney. Even though she’s been the better of the two for Minnesota, Nicole Hensley is on the team instead.

Canada doesn’t have too many changes, though they will be bolstered on the back end by Frost defender Sophie Jaques and Victoire forward Jennifer Gardiner.

The most intriguing addition, even though she might not play, is Sirens goaltender Corinne Schroeder. Despite being a PWHL Goaltender of the Year finalist – an award she’ll be in the running for this year – the Elm Creek, Manitoba native has never donned the maple leaf in international competition.

The final two games of the series will take place in the Maritimes on Feb. 6 and Feb. 8.

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