PWHL Power Rankings: Montreal Victoire leap frog Minnesota Frost for first
The two top teams in the PWHL are making things very interesting as the Minnesota Frost and Montreal Victoire continue to separate themselves from the rest of the league. However, some teams are trying to make moves in the battle for playoff spots.
Hunter Crowther and Tyler Kuehl explain where each team stands as we slowly approach the month of February.
1. Montreal Victoire
Record: 6-2-1-2, +5
Last Week: 2nd (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 1st
Hunter: Two games for the Victoire in Quebec last week, one in their home rink and the other at a rink that could soon host their own PWHL franchise. The win over the Frost was impressive for a number of reasons and showcased how when Montreal is on their A-game, they’re nearly unstoppable.
But their 2-1 win over the Charge highlighted how, even in a tight-checking, low-scoring affair, they’re comfortable and can beat you in any way. Also, Montreal has been able to generate plenty of offense from their blue line, and it’s not just Erin Ambrose: the Victoire’s defenders have four goals and 17 assists for 21 points through the first third of the season. When you can get that production from your defense, you’re laughing.
Tyler: This Victoire is looking more and more like the team we expected heading into the season…championship contenders. Also, the fact they have the more recent win over the Minnesota Frost gives them the edge for me (recency bias matters). I’ve been pleased with how Ann-Renée Desbiens played for the past week, making a number of big saves in the win over the Charge.
Abby Boreen is quietly one of the top goal scorers on the team. With Stacey still out, the former Minnesota forward is being asked to step up a little bit more offensively, as she and Captain Canada continue to lead the Victoire.
The Victoire are off for 10 days as they don’t play again until Jan. 29, when they face the Ottawa Charge.
2. Minnesota Frost
Record: 4-3-2-3, +2
Last Week: 1st (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Tyler’s Rank: 2nd
Hunter: The Frost suffered two losses and earned just one out of a possible six points this week, but sometimes, you come home from a road trip with nothing. Sophie Jaques looks like she hasn’t missed a step, although it feels like she’s on the ice for as many goes against as goals for.
I wouldn’t look too deep into the pair of losses, considering how much talent is on this roster and how disciplined head coach Ken Klee can have this group. With two games this week, I expect they’ll string together some wins and put pressure on the Victoire for No. 1 in the standings.
Tyler: As I said, had Minnesota beaten the Victoire in Laval last Friday, they would still be No. 1 on the list. Granted, losing to the New York Sirens two days earlier didn’t help their case. What concerned me about the shootout defeat at the hands of New York was the fact that the Sirens were able to push the Frost around a little bit. Road game or not, if you want to be the top team in the league, you need to play like the top team every night.
Sure, having Grace Zumwinkle missing time isn’t helping Minnesota’s lack of scoring. However, players like Britta Curl-Salemme and Taylor Heise have the tools to be game-changers. The only question is, can they be on a consistent basis?
The Frost are back in action on Tuesday night when they host the Ottawa Charge.
3. New York Sirens
Record: 3-3-1-3, +7
Last Week: 3rd
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler’s Rank: 3rd
Hunter: I really, really wanted to put the Sirens ahead of the Frost this week, but I’m not quite there yet. Still, though, New York’s one game last week was a tidy 3-2 shootout win over Minnesota, a game where they controlled possession and generated 35 shots on the Frost net. Speaking of the net, Corinne Schroeder continues to dominate, leading in every category for netminders with a .934 save percentage (SV%) and 1.86 goals against average (GAA).
The Sirens also acquired Taylor Girard from the Fleet in exchange for Jill Saulnier. A former No. 1 overall pick in the NWHL, Girard provided good offensive depth for Boston last season before getting injured but hasn’t found the scoresheet in 2024-25. Perhaps a fresh start could help Girard find the spark she’s missing.
Tyler: I know we haven’t said it too many times this season, but the Sirens outplayed the Frost in their lone game last week (despite needing a tying goal late in regulation). Not only was that noticeable in the box score, but the eye test also proved Greg Fargo’s team looked like the better team this past Wednesday. Games like that show this group is far from the team that finished last in the PWHL last season and are certified playoff favorites.
What’s crazy is that the Sirens are just one win away from being second in the standings. They have the best defense in the league and have one of the better offenses in the PWHL as well. I wouldn’t be shocked if this team found a way to get on a run and move a little further up the polls.
The Sirens have only one game this week as they’re set to visit the Charge on Saturday.
4. Ottawa Charge
Record: 4-0-2-5, -5
Last Week: 4th
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Tyler’s Rank: 4th
Hunter: Sometimes, you just know you’re going to be on the receiving end of a loss, and that’s what the Charge faced when they hosted the Sceptres last week. Toronto was desperate for points and Ottawa appeared to be out of it early on, despite the close score. They looked back on track early on against the Victoire in Quebec City, but Montreal was the better team and earned the win in regulation.
Emerance Maschmeyer continues to put up stellar performances, and you hope the offense can provide some response going the other way. Only two players have more than four points in 11 games, and that isn’t good enough if Ottawa wants to compete for a playoff spot.
Tyler: I feel like we’re experiencing déjà vu with this team. Just like last year, the Charge are consistently involved in close games. Games they would win if they had one or two more scoring threats. Yet, following a 2-1 defeat to the Victoire in Quebec City on Sunday, Ottawa finds itself hanging on to the final playoff spot after suffering its fifth one-goal loss of the year.
I mean, it would help if Emerance Maschmeyer wasn’t facing 30-plus shots almost every game. The only reason why the Charge hasn’t allowed the most goals in the PWHL is because of the Team Canada mainstay. The team needs to find a way to have more stability on the back end in front of Maschmeyer because it’s hard to score when you’re chasing the game around in your own zone.
The Charge is on tap to face the Frost on Tuesday night.
5. Boston Fleet
Record: 2-2-2-4, -4
Last Week: 5th
Hunter’s Rank: 5th
Tyler’s Rank: 5th
Tyler: The Fleet was absolutely terrible this week! They didn’t even play a game!
In all seriousness, outside the PWHL’s weird scheduling, the week off gave Courtney Kessel’s team a chance to recuperate and rest up before an important week in their season. The race for the playoffs is so tight that Boston can move their way into the top four with a couple of good performances. They just need to find a way to get a couple more goals and, I guess, keep relying on Aerin Frankel to bail them out like she’s done since the inaugural season.
Hunter: I mean, having not played any games last week, there’s not much to add. But the Fleet’s trade with the Sirens does provide a level of intrigue for Boston going forward.
Saulnier was a dominant college player at Cornell University who has twice represented Canada at the Olympics but struggled in her first PWHL season, scoring just once in 18 games. Just like Girard, a fresh start might be what the doctor ordered.
The Fleet is back in action on Wednesday night, taking on the Toronto Sceptres, before visiting the Frost on Saturday.
6. Toronto Sceptres
Record: 3-0-2-5, -5
Last Week: 6th
Hunter’s Rank: 6th
Tyler’s Rank: 6th
Hunter: Going into their game against the Charge, it felt like the Sceptres weren’t leaving the nation’s capital without a win. From the moment the puck dropped, Toronto was all over the home team, winning battles and generating chances on the Charge net, all while suffocating any opportunity from Ottawa. The score was only 4-2 with an empty netter, but the 39-24 shot totals highlight how one-sided it was.
As I mentioned in this week’s takeaways, it was good to see both Blayre Turnbull and Emma Maltais get on the scoresheet. If Toronto wants to climb out of the league’s basement, they’ll need their best players to produce.
Tyler: Finally, the Sceptres have hit double-digits in points. They did exactly what they had to do against the rival Charge, outplaying their provincial foes for most of the contest last Tuesday, leading to a 4-2 win. Hannah Miller and Kristen Campbell both had great games, with Campbell starting to show some of that form that made her the Goaltender of the Year last season.
That said, one win isn’t going to convince me that this team is ready to make another crazy run to get into the playoffs. Until they start playing a little more consistently, Toronto will remain outside of the postseason picture.
What’s crazy is that with that one win over the Charge, Toronto is just three points out of a playoff spot…ain’t the PWHL grand?
The Sceptres are set to take on the Fleet on Wednesday night.