PWHL Players of the Week: Muller, Philips and Flanagan showcase their skills

As we approach the midway point of the 2024-25 PWHL regular season, the standings are getting tighter and the league’s best players are finding their game.

Whether it was a three-point performance, some offense from the blue line, or a rookie recording a shutout in net, these were the Daily Faceoff PWHL Players of the Week.

Alina Muller (F, Boston Fleet)

Alina Muller has been a reliable defensive forward throughout the season, and in the five games since the start of 2025, hasn’t had a minus performance. However, her offense has seen a steep decline from last year, as the Boston Fleet winger had just one assist going into last Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Sceptres.

That all changed Muller scored a goal and two assists, leading the Fleet to a 4-1 win over Toronto. The 26-year-old forward was all over the ice, producing five shots on goal and keeping the puck out of the Fleet zone for most of the game.

The offensive outburst might jumpstart Muller’s point totals and get her back to where she was last year in her first professional season, where she had five goals and 11 assists for 16 points. Boston only has three players with more than five points, so an increase in production would make a big difference in the fortunes of the Fleet.

Kali Flanagan (D, Toronto Sceptres)

When you think of offensive defenders on the Sceptres, your mind may go straight to Renata Fast, who finished tied for fourth in points last season among blueliners with 13, and already has eight points in 12 games this season, which is tied for third.

But this week, the production from the back end came from Kali Flanagan, who had a goal and two assists in two games, giving her two goals and three assists for five points on the year. The first assist came Wednesday against the Fleet, as a give-and-go with Blayre Turnbull gave Toronto their lone goal of the game.

The offense carried over to Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, as a Flanagan shot a puck with eyes from the point that Hannah Miller tipped past Corinne Schroeder to give Toronto the opening goal of the game.

Flanagan would seal the win with an empty net goal, finishing the night with two points and four shots on goal, a season high. The win was in front of 19,102 fans and could help the Sceptres put together a win streak to fight for a playoff spot.

Gwyneth Philips (G, Ottawa Charge)

In the PWHL’s inaugural season, Ottawa Charge netminder Emerance Maschmeyer appeared in all but one game, going 9-9-4 with a .915 save percentage (SV%) and 2.30 goals against average (GAA). Her play was commendable, but it became clear to Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld and head coach Carla MacLeod that depth in the crease must be a priority going into season two.

Fast forward to last June, Ottawa selects Gwyneth Philips in the third round, 14th overall in the 2024 PWHL Draft. Philips had posted some of the best goaltending numbers in college hockey history, finishing her career with a 70-15-4 record, a .958 SV% and 0.96 GAA — that’s right, a goals against average under one. Her .958 SV% was the highest in NCAA history, and she twice finished as a top-ten finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award.

Now playing at the professional level, Philips has looked confident in her two first games, and last Tuesday, she earned her first career win, stopping 22 shots to earn a shutout and becoming the first rookie goalie in PWHL history to do so.

“You know, it’s only my third game. I’m still trying to feel things out, but little taps from my teammates telling me I’m playing the puck well,” Philips said after the game. “It’s just that little reassurance that goes a long way to build my confidence. I let my teammates know how important that is to me, but you know little things like that really helped me be comfortable in this game.”

Maschmeyer will still carry most of the load for the second half of the 2024-25 season, but Ottawa can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have a strong backup option, and someone who will be part of the Charge’s future plans for a long, long time.