PWHL Power Rankings: Montreal Victoire pacing the field heading into trade deadline
With just a few days remaining before the PWHL Trade Deadline, the favorites are separating themselves from the pack, as the postseason picture is starting to become even clearer with less than two months remaining in the regular season.
Hunter Crowther and Tyler Kuehl break down where the teams stand prior to any last-minute deals are made over the next couple of days.
1. Montreal Victoire
Record: 10-6-1-5, +10
Last Week: 1st
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 1st
Hunter: Even the strongest, tallest trees bend, and we saw a little bend from the first-place Victoire this week, heavily outshot in a 2-1 shootout win against the Frost and beaten handedly by the Sceptres, a taste of revenge from their game the week prior.
They came out strong against the Fleet over the weekend, and it was only Aerin Frankel who forced Montreal to pick up the win in overtime. They’re still the best in the league, but head coach Kori Cheverie and this group might have to tighten up their 200-foot game as we inch closer to the postseason.
Tyler: I know people are going to knock whatever point total the Victoire obtains at the end of the season, but there is a chance they could ensure that they have a better season than Toronto did last year. Through 22 games, Montreal has 43 points. Last year’s Toronto team ended up with 47 points in 24 contests. I wouldn’t be shocked if Montreal surpassed the mark, and coasted the rest of the way to a regular season championship.
Even when there’s a chink in the armor, Montreal is able to either quickly bounce back or clean up their mistakes just as fast. Whether it be the big names like Poulin or Desbiens stepping up, or depth players such as Catherine Dubois or Anna Wilgren, everyone’s coming through for the Victoire.
The Victoire are back in action on Wednesday when they visit the New York Sirens.
2. Toronto Sceptres
Record: 9-2-5-7, +2
Last Week: 2nd
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 2nd
Hunter: We saw a dichotomy of efforts this week with the Sceptres, a team that started the season poorly but rocketed up the standings and are now just a few points back of the No. 1 spot. Toronto started the week with a 4-1 win over Montreal, one that saw a fluid power play find success and a dominant cycle game at even strength that kept the puck on their sticks.
But Sunday against the Frost, it was like a different team altogether. The Sceptres were outshot 29-15 by Minnesota and struggled to generate any type of momentum throughout the game. Beyond a Renata Fast goal with a minute to go in the second, it was a struggle, and they can thank Kristen Campbell for dragging them to overtime. Toronto now has a 10-day break before playing again March 19.
Tyler: I’m not going to let recent bias clog my memory on how the Scpetres have been performing. They’ve had points in 10 of their last 11 games and are close enough, and are playing well enough, to capture first place if Montreal was to slip up.
Even with how bad Toronto played against the Frost, Kristen Campbell showed what she’s been capable of over her career, and was really the only reason the Sceptres picked up a point in an overtime loss. If she can find that level of consistency again, the Sceptres, with the return of Sarah Nurse inevitable, are going to be a tough team to beat.
Toronto has the week off before returning to play on March 19 against the Sirens.
3. Minnesota Frost
Record: 7-5-4-7, +5
Last Week: 4th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler’s Rank: 4th
Hunter: There it is, movement in the rankings! By all accounts, the Frost had one of their best weeks of the season, even though they technically went 1-1-1-0. They started the week with a strong effort against the Victoire, outshooting them 41-22 but falling short 2-1 in a shootout. They went on to beat the Charge 5-0, then defeated the Sceptres 2-1 in overtime.
Watching each of their games this week, there’s a fire lit under them after a poor stretch of play throughout January and February. Kendall Coyne Schofield put the puck in the net, Sophie Jaques generated shots on net, and Maddie Rooney looked comfortable in her first start in a month against Toronto, stopping 14 of 15 shots. The league needs to watch out, because Minnesota is waking up.
Tyler: The Frost gave themselves some much-needed breathing room at the bottom of the playoff picture this past week. They decimated the Charge in Raleigh last Friday, chasing one of the best goaltenders in the world, Emerance Maschmeyer, and scoring the most goals they have in one game in over a month. Then, they went into Toronto in front of that boisterous crowd and took them out of it with a convincing effort, despite only getting a two-point win.
I know I have goaltender Nicole Hensley in my Trade Targets, so seeing he do enough to win was a positive sight. Hey, it might even bolster her stock should Minnesota look to make a change.
The Frost are set to take on the Charge again, this time in Ottawa on Tuesday night.
4. Boston Fleet
Record: 7-5-4-6, +7
Last Week: 3rd (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Tyler’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler: I was very close to sending Boston up to second in the rankings this week. They have continued to impress me with how they’ve been playing and how they’ve been able to win games. My MVP favorite, Aerin Frankel, continues to wow everyone with her ability and gutsy play between the pipes. With Hilary Knight producing at a much higher rate than she did last year, the Fleet is unquestionably better than the team that lost in the PWHL Final.
My concern is Boston’s inability to beat the Victoire. Four games. Four losses. I know things can change in the playoffs, but if they can’t beat the best team in the league now, that is definitely going to shake their confidence come May.
Hunter: It’s been fun watching the Fleet find their game over the last few weeks, and I’m not taking anything away from them dropping them down to fourth on the list – I’m just that impressed with Minnesota. That being said, these last two games weren’t their best efforts, despite getting four of a possible six points out of them.
What stood out to me was just how easy it was for the last-place Sirens to navigate through the Boston zone and generate chances on Aerin Frankel, finishing with 40 shots against. That continued through the first two periods against the Victoire. Again, there’s a lot to like about the Fleet, but just like Montreal, they need to tighten up their defensive game.
The Fleet are off until Saturday when they pay a visit to the Ottawa Charge.
5. Ottawa Charge
Record: 7-1-4-9, -11
Last Week: 5th
Hunter’s Rank: 5th
Tyler’s Rank: 5th
Tyler: That loss to the Frost couldn’t have been more demoralizing for Ottawa. With points in five straight games and back-to-back victories, a win over Minnesota would’ve put them in a playoff spot. Instead, the Charge are starting at an eight-point deficit with nine games remaining. Even with two games in hand on Toronto and Minnesota, and one on Boston, time is running out for Ottawa to make another late-season push for their first playoff berth.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ottawa makes a move this week, though general manager Mike Hirshfeld might be hesitant after his big blockbuster earlier this season has led to some mixed results.
Hunter: After a nine-day break, a fully rested Charge lineup travelled to the State of Hockey to take on the Frost, and … it wasn’t pretty, losing 5-0. Emerance Maschmeyer was pulled for the first time this season and just the second time in her PWHL career. I’ll be honest, it felt like one of those games coaches tell their players to flush from their minds and move on to the next one. Don’t let it linger.
Ottawa will face Minnesota again on Tuesday, then take on the Fleet over the weekend, giving them a chance to earn back some points and inch closer to the fourth playoff spot. It’s a difficult task, currently being eight points back, but with nine games to go, there’s still time.
6. New York Sirens
Record: 4-3-4-10, -13
Last Week: 6th
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 6th
Tyler: The Sirens’ luck is bad enough that I think they could outshoot a team 50-10, and they might get a point in a shootout loss. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s easier to buy a house in Toronto than it is for New York to get a win right now.
If the market heats up this week, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Sirens sell off some of its bigger names. If this were a year where draft picks could be moved, New York would be getting all the picks with options to move players like Abby Roque, Noora Tulus and more.
Who knows? Maybe Alex Carpenter, Sarah Fillier and Abbey Murphy can make some super line next year.
Hunter: It’s another lost season for the Sirens, but let’s look at the positives: They controlled the pace of play for nearly the entire game against the Fleet last Wednesday, outshooting them 40-20 and generating some high-quality scoring chances. Sarah Fillier scored both her 10th of the season and in her third straight game, and her 22 points are now second in the league in points among all players.
Just days away from the Trade Deadline, it will be interesting to see how New York views their players and which ones they can move on from. My colleague Tyler had three Sirens on his list of 10 players who could be moved ahead of the deadline, but judging by how this team looks, the number might be even higher.
New York is set to host the Victoire on Wednesday night.