PWHL Power Rankings: Despite a loss, Minnesota continues to pace the field

In another exciting week of Professional Women’s Hockey League action, one team remains atop the standings, as well as the rankings. However, a couple more games allowed some teams to move up, while others with high expectations stumbled.

Tyler Kuehl and Hunter Crowther debated a little bit more this week, as some of their favorites underwhelmed in the last seven days.

1. Minnesota

Record: 3-0-1, +5
Last Week: 1st
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 1st

Tyler: It’s weird how we got heat last week for putting the only team with an undefeated record at the top. Oh well…Minnesota is a great hockey team, and I will not hear anything otherwise. Sure, they were taken down by New York in overtime, but they still play with an insane level of confidence, especially at home. Both Nicole Hensley and Maddie played great in net, and Taylor Heise was first-class in their win over Toronto last Wednesday.

Hunter: Minnesota may have suffered their first defeat of the season, but in their two games this past week, they proved once again that they are the class of the PWHL. 

In their 3-1 against Toronto last Wednesday, Nicole Hensley — one of Daily Faceoff’s Players of the Week for Week 2 — stopped 31 of 32 shots, bumping up to a .955 SV% through two games and looking as confident as any goaltender in the league. No. 1 overall draft pick Taylor Heise had two goals and an assist against New York, and nine total shots through their two games, solidifying her spot among the game’s best at only 22. 

Minnesota heads to Canada’s capital to face Ottawa on Wednesday.

2. New York

Record: 2-2-0, +1
Last Week: 2nd
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler’s Rank: 2nd

Hunter: Winning one and losing one this past week, New York finished stronger than they started. Down 2-0 after one against Minnesota, New York stormed back to win 3-2 in overtime, a comeback kickstarted by Alex Carpenter scoring her third of the season. 

Goaltender Corinne Schroeder continues to dominate in the crease, stopping 70 of 76 shots between last week’s two games. Currently second in the standings, if New York wants to stay near the top of the standings, her performance will be a key factor.

Tyler: I know what you are thinking, how can a .500 team be this high up? Well, look at how New York has played on the road. After their statement win in the league’s inaugural game against Toronto, N.Y. rallied to hand Minnesota their first loss thanks to Emma Woods’ game-winner.

Also, they might have the best defender in the league, as Ella Shelton, who assisted on all three goals on Sunday, leads the league with six points.

New York will be on the road against Montreal on Tuesday.

3. Montreal

Record: 2-1-1, 0
Last Week: 4th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Tyler’s Rank: 3rd

Tyler: We saw a much more confident Montreal team this past week, which is what we expected to see from them early on. Marie-Philip Poulin finally came alive last Wednesday when she notched a hat trick against New York. They should have won on Saturday against Boston, a but a questionable video review cost them. Nevertheless, if they can build off last week, they are going to start contending for first place.

Hunter: Defender Erin Ambrose — the third and final Player of the Week — continued to dominate at both ends of the rink, scoring her first goal of the season against Boston. Despite the loss on Saturday, Montreal highlighted this week that they’ll be near the top of the standings throughout the season. 

Along with hosting New York on Tuesday, Montreal will take on Toronto in Verdun on Saturday.

4. Ottawa

Record: 1-0-1, +3
Last Week: 6th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Tyler’s Rank: 4th

Hunter: Yes, they’ve only played two games, and yes their lack of games was a reason why I had them sixth in the standings last week, but it’s hard not to be impressed after Saturday’s 5-1 win on the road against Toronto. 

Led by Gabbie Hughes’ two goals and an overall dominant 200-foot performance through 60 minutes, showcased through Ottawa’s speed and their performance in the neutral zone, they might have played the most complete game the league has seen so far. It will be exciting to see how they evolve as the season goes. 

Tyler: Funny how one game can change an entire perception on a team. After not playing for 11 days, Ottawa slapped Toronto in the 6ix. They play with a chip on their shoulder (and we can blame Hunter for that), and Emerance Maschmeyer is doing her best to step out of the shadow of Ann-Renée Desbiens. The question is, how long until Ottawa no longer takes teams by surprise.

Ottawa’s next two games are at home, including Wednesday night against Minnesota.

5. Boston

Record: 1-1-0, 0
Last Week: 5th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 6th
Tyler’s Rank: 5th

Tyler: It is still hard to get a grade on Boston. Like Ottawa, they had a week-and-a-half layoff in between their first and second games. However, despite getting heavily outplayed on the road against Montreal, depth scoring came up big. Taylor Girard and Hannah Brandt erased a 2-0 deficit, while Amanda Pelkey’s game-winning goal stole a 3-2 win.

Hunter: Yes, they beat Montreal 3-2 in overtime last Saturday, but Boston was outplayed for nearly the entire game, outshot 33-21 and saved by the performance of netminder Aerin Frankel.

They travel up north to face Toronto this Wednesday, and whoever comes out of that game with a loss will continue to hover near the bottom of the standings through the first three weeks of the season.

Boston is on the road on Wednesday, taking on Toronto which…

6. Toronto

Record: 1-3-0, -9

Last Week: 3rd (-3)

Hunter’s Rank: 5th

Tyler’s Rank: 6th

Tyler: Holy cats, what a drop-off. We all thought the loss to New York was a fluke and a result of the immense opening ceremony. However, the way they were outworked at home last Saturday against Ottawa, and their lackluster power play against Minnesota, Toronto has been left longing in the first two weeks.

I know it is still early on, and they have 20 games to right the ship, but with a team with that much talent, and Team Canada coach Troy Ryan at the helm, it is hard to say that I’m not disappointed.

Hunter: Losing both their games and scoring only one goal in 120 minutes, Toronto’s flaws were on full display last week. Even with an array of talent, they haven’t been able to assemble a complete game, looking weak at both ends of the rink.

Goaltender Kristen Campbell has given up 12 goals in her four appearances and was pulled after giving up three goals on 11 shots after one period against Ottawa last Saturday. If Toronto wants to dent the league standings, the 26-year-old will have to tighten up her game.

After facing Boston, Toronto gets its first crack on Saturday at Montreal on the road.