PWHL Players of the Week: Marie-Philip Poulin, Erin Ambrose, Nicole Hensley shine bright in Week 2

In part of Daily Faceoff’s continuing coverage of the PWHL, Tyler Kuehl and I will take a look at the best player by position each week during the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey league season.

Let’s see who stood out the most in Week 2 of the PWHL.

Read last week’s Daily Faceoff Players of the Week.

Marie-Philip Poulin (F, Montreal)

It was only a matter of time before arguably the best player in the game would make the list. Whomever had “Week 2” in the office betting pool, come collect your prize.

Beyond the obvious of scoring a hat trick in Montreal’s 5-2 win over New York last Wednesday, Poulin was a driving force for the team through their two games this week. The Montreal captain had 10 total shots between Wednesday and their Saturday game against Boston. She also went 13 for 18 on faceoffs Saturday, a winning percentage of 72 percent.

Heading into Sunday, Montreal led the league in goals with 10, and Poulin was tied for the points lead with Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle and Taylor Heise. There’s little doubt that Captain Canada will be on the points leaderboard throughout the season.

Erin Ambrose (D, Montreal)

We don’t have to go far to find this week’s best defender. Poulin’s teammate Erin Ambrose was fantastic at both ends of the ice, playing sound defensive hockey and neutralizing nearly all chances in her own end, while at the same time generating scoring chances in in the offensive zone.

Offering up a sweet cross-ice pass to Poulin against New York for teammate’s first of the season, Ambrose followed it up against Boston with a goal of her own, firing a puck from the point that had eyes.

Like Poulin, this likely won’t be the only time you see her name on this list.

Nicole Hensley (G, Minnesota)

Minnesota goaltender Nicole Hensley had a case last week for being the league’s best goaltender, but was juuuuuuust squeaked out by New York’s Corinne Schroeder. In Week 2, however, there no was debate: the choice was Hensley.

The first goalie taken in last September’s PWHL Draft, Hensley looked sharp in Minnesota’s 3-1 win over Toronto last Wednesday, stopping 31 of 32 shots and never giving Toronto a chance to get back in the game.

With 64 saves on 67 shots faced this season, Hensley has a .955 SV% through her first two games. It’s still early, but that doesn’t mean the signs aren’t there for an All-Star season from the U.S. national team member.