PWHL Power Rankings: Playoff battles hitting fever pitch heading toward Women’s Worlds
The excitement of the PWHL season is rising to a point that some of us wish the Women’s Worlds would get pushed back a little bit to make way for the epic conclusion of the regular season.
Hunter Crowther and Tyler Kuehl break down where the teams stand with just a couple of games remaining before the last international break of the season.
1. Montreal Victoire
Record: 11-6-3-6, +3
Last Week: 1st
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 1st
Hunter: One of the nice things about the Victoire compiling so many points to start the season was that it gave them some breathing room for a bad stretch of games. That stretch began with a 4-1 loss to the Sceptres March 6 and losses in four of their next five games. But a 4-1 win over a struggling Frost group, with a pair of goals from both Laura Stacey and Marie-Philip Poulin, was just what the doctor ordered.
With the team announcing Monday that Ann-Renee Desbiens has been placed on LTIR and won’t be eligible to play until Montreal returns from the international break, Tuesday’s game against a last-placed Sirens group could have more significance for the Victoire’s place in the standings than they may have anticipated.
Tyler: The Victoire were there for the taking, by the way things were looking. With losses in three straight games, and the loss of the team’s starting goaltender, Montreal was on its way to losing first place for the first time in months. However, the win against the Frost, and how they won, shows how this team has the ability to turn their game up a notch when need be.
The big concern is how healthy they will be coming out of the Women’s Worlds. With Canada seemingly willing to play Desbiens if she’s healthy, and numerous players competing for their respective countries, the Victoire seem like they can’t afford any more injuries.
The Victoire heads into the break with a clash against the New York Sirens on Tuesday.
2. Toronto Sceptres
Record: 12-2-5-8, +3
Last Week: 2nd
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Tyler’s Rank: 2nd
Hunter: The Sceptres started the week strong with a 4-2 over the Fleet, led by a two-goal effort from Daryl Watts, who has been on fire in the second half of March. Her 11 goals on the season are fifth in the PWHL, and her 26 points rank third in the league, highlighting that she has been far and away the best free agent signing from last offseason.
Sunday’s effort against the Frost was underwhelming, with Minnesota getting out to a 4-0 lead and eventually winning 5-2. Toronto remains three points behind Montreal for first in the standings, and they won’t play again until April 26. While you want your players to succeed at the international level, Toronto’s biggest hope is getting through the World Championships with no injuries.
Tyler: Like their Canadian rivals, the Sceptres failed to punch their ticket to the playoffs on their first attempt. I don’t think that was an instance of what went wrong with Toronto, as they were taking on a desperate Frost team trying to get their playoff spot back. However, you know Troy Ryan’s team didn’t want to go into their near month-long break on a whimper.
Similar to what I said about Montreal, Toronto just has to hope all of its players head to Czechia stay healthy. After finally having a fully healthy lineup for the first time all season after Sarah Nurse came back, the Sceptres would like to keep it that way heading into the postseason.
The Sceptres are off until after the world championship.
3. Boston Fleet
Record: 8-6-4-8, +8
Last Week: 3rd
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler’s Rank: 3rd
Hunter: With all the focus on the Frost and Charge fighting for the fourth playoff spot, it’s the Fleet who should be fighting for their postseason lives. Two losses in regulation last week left Boston with no points, and their hold on third place leaves them as vulnerable as anyone.
While so much of the focus is on their strong defensive play and elite goaltending in Aerin Frankel, this team needs to score goals, and it has to be someone other than Hilary Knight, Alina Muller or Susanna Tapani. While that trio has been productive up front, no other forward has hit double digits in points. Someone call Bonnie Tyler, because Boston needs a hero.
Tyler: I still think Boston can challenge for first place, especially with how the Victoire and Sceptres have played in recent weeks. However, showing signs of weakness at home and in St. Louis makes me wonder if the team believes it can finish atop the league standings.
The Fleet have a chance to gain some ground on the top teams in the league before breaking for the world championship, but it isn’t like they’re going to be “well-rested” coming out of the pause as they have so many key players – Alina Muller, Hilary Knight, Aerin Frankel, etc. – will be competing for the gold medal.
Yet, if this team simply gets to the playoffs, we know they can show that home-ice advantage is merely a phrase.
Boston takes on the Charge in the final game before the international break.
4. Ottawa Charge
Record: 10-1-4-11, -12
Last Week: 5th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 5th
Tyler’s Rank: 4th
Tyler: I’m buying into the Charge. Did they have a massive collapse that cost them a current spot in the playoffs? Sure. Yet, how they bounced back in the final game of the Takeover Tour, beating the talented Fleet in regulation. It helps that Tereza Vanisova has become an MVP candidate with her scoring prowess, and her ability to come in clutch.
Also, Gwyneth Philips had a big bounce-back effort against Boston. Losing the way she did to New York could rattle the confidence of a young goaltender. However, the way Philips played showed she has the mental strength of a veteran, something Ottawa needs with Emerance Maschmeyer out.
Hunter: I commend my DFO colleague Tyler for putting the Charge in the fourth spot, especially after a late surge from Tereza Vanisova – one of our DFO players of the week – helped Ottawa clinch the regulation win and earn three points in a tight playoff race. But there are still parts of the Charge’s game that I don’t like, flashes where they give up too many opportunities and force their goaltender to make a save.
With Emerance Maschmayer out for potentially the rest of the season and Gwyneth Philips forced to step in the crease, Ottawa needs to do a better job of preventing chances. We saw some of that against the Fleet, but Philips still had to stand on her head. Wednesday’s rematch between the two teams will be a good test.
The Charge will take on the Fleet on Wednesday night.
5. Minnesota Frost
Record: 8-5-4-10, +1
Last Week: 4th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Tyler’s Rank: 5th
Tyler: I’m knocking the Frost down a peg because this team shouldn’t be in the situation they’re in. They spiraled down from challenging for first place to once again having to scrap to get into the playoffs. I know it was the winning formula last year, winning the Walter Cup as the four-seed, but there’s no way they can do it again.
It was a positive sight to see Nicole Hensley shut down the Sceptres on Sunday. She had been very off this season, leading to her being left off Team USA’s roster for the upcoming tournament. If she can restore some confidence in her team with some solid performances, Minnesota can flaunt that strong duo it had in year one.
Hunter: After I saw the Frost lose 4-1 to the Victoire last Wednesday, I thought they were as good as done. In a game that was essentially a must-win – although they’re all must-win games at this point – Montreal scored both early and late to take Minnesota out of the game and take three points in front of a disappointed Frost crowd, further eroding Minnesota’s playoff hopes.
For one day, the Frost did not have a playoff spot, with the Charge beating the Fleet on Saturday. But Minnesota responded with an impressive 5-2 win over the Sceptres on Sunday, catapulting them back into fourth place. All eyes will be on their April 30 contest after the international break when they travel to Ottawa in what could end up being a “win-and-your-in” matchup.
The Frost doesn’t play again until after Women’s Worlds.
6. New York Sirens
Record: 6-4-4-12, -10
Last Week: 6th
Hunter’s Rank: 6th
Tyler’s Rank: 6th
Tyler: You have to love how the Sirens are continuing to fight to stay alive, but they’re running out of runway. With their valiant comeback against the Charge last Tuesday, the team showed that they aren’t willing to go quietly into the night. They’re getting some consistent scoring from all parts of their lineup, along with star rookie Sarah Fillier.
Yet, unless this team wins its final four games and gets some help from the teams ahead of them, it’s going to be a tough ask to get the Sirens into the playoffs. The Sirens only have one more meeting with the Frost and are tasked with taking on the Victoire twice.
Hunter: As the Sirens close out another disappointing 2024-25 season, you’re just looking for positives. A commanding 6-3 win over a Charge group that’s desperate for points in the standings is impressive, outshooting Ottawa 34-18 and going 2/5 on the power play.
Also, did you know Sarah Fillier is good at hockey? Call it a broken record or beating a dead horse, but her rookie season is one for the record books, as her two goals against the Charge give her seven in her last eight games. The Princeton alumnus may end up winning more hardware than just the Rookie of the Year.
The Sirens go up against the Victoire in Laval on Tuesday night.