PWHL final day of 2024-25 regular season: What you need to know
All six PWHL teams will be playing on the final day of the regular season, and if we’re being honest: the league couldn’t have wrote a better script.
The Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres are trying to clinch the first-place spot and secure home-ice advantage throughout the PWHL Playoffs, while only three points separate the Boston Fleet, Ottawa Charge and defending Walter Cup-champion Minnesota Frost, as all three battle it out for the final two postseason spots.
Here’s a look at how each team can leave their mark Saturday (and yes, that includes you too, New York Sirens).
Montreal Victoire
It’s real simple: if the Victoire earn a point in any fashion against Sirens, or the Sceptres fail to win in regulation against the Charge, then first place is theirs.
But with great power comes great responsibility, as the No. 1 ranked group gets to choose their first-round opponent. The Sceptres were first place last season and picked the Frost, and, well, that didn’t work out.
Record: 11-7-3-8, 50 points
Toronto Sceptres
As mentioned, the only way the Sceptres clinch the top spot is with a regulation win against the Charge and Montreal suffering a regulation loss to New York.
Either way, Toronto has already clinched home-ice advantage in the first round, so whatever happens, they won’t have to stray far from Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Record: 12-3-5-9, 47 points
Boston Fleet
For the Fleet, a single point against the Frost will punch their ticket to the dance. But if Minnesota wins in regulation and ties Boston with 44 points, the Frost would have the tiebreaker, as they would have more regulation wins.
That would mean the Fleet would need Toronto to beat the Charge in any fashion, giving Boston and Minnesota the final two playoff spots.
Record: 9-6-5-9, 44 points
Ottawa Charge
A regulation win against the Sceptres would guarantee a playoff spot for the Charge, as would an overtime or shootout win combined with the Fleet earning a point – Ottawa’s 12 regulation wins give them the tiebreaker against the Fleet or Frost in any scenario.
If you really want to play with fire, if Ottawa loses in regulation, they could still make it if Boston defeats Minnesota in regulation. However, earning the points might be a little easier.
Record: 12-1-4-12, 42 points
Minnesota Frost
In what could be the most difficult, but simplest path, the Frost have to beat the Fleet in regulation. That’s it.
Just like last season, Minnesota has struggled in the second half of the season, leaving points on the board and putting themselves in a position where they have to clinch on the last day of the year. Then again, they were the league’s first Walter Cup champs.
Record: 9-5-4-11, 41 points
New York Sirens
Having already been eliminated from playoff contention and securing the No. 1 overall pick, what’s in it for the Sirens? Instead of saying pride, let’s say pettiness: be the spoil sport. Ruin the Victoria’s Saturday and give the Sceptres a chance to grab the top spot on the last day of the regular season.
Oh, and give the puck to Sarah Fillier – last year’s No. 1 overall pick – as much as possible. With 27 points, she’s two points back of Fleet captain Hilary Knight for the top scorer in the league. Help her hit the 30-point mark.
Record: 8-4-5-12, 37 points
There you have it: everything you need to know on the last day of the PWHL 2024-25 regular season. With the league staggering the schedule so fans can see all the action, it should be an action-packed Saturday for hockey fans.
Enjoy!