Welcome back to The Ice Garden’s weekly PWHL power rankings! Check back every Friday for a new installment and remember: if you think your team is ranked too low, it’s definitely, totally, 100% because we hate them.
And then there was one. The Minnesota Frost became the third team to punch their playoff ticket this week, leaving just one spot up for grabs in the final three weeks of the season. Three teams remain in the race, while the Vancouver Goldeneyes joined the Seattle Torrent this week in the not-yet-eliminated-but-hopeless category. Meanwhile, the Gold Plan will be activated this week, with at least one of Seattle and Vancouver set to be eliminated by the end of their matchup on Tuesday. The week ahead is chock full of big matchups, with all but one of the six games taking place between teams directly scrapping with each other for seeding. Nothing will be settled this week, but regulation wins will go a long way to helping teams position themselves well for the final weeks.
Jeepers, it’s classic cartoon catchphrase week in the PWHL power rankings! Yabba dabba doo!
#1. x-Boston Fleet (14-5-2-4, 54 points)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1 (-)
This Week’s Results:
- Tuesday, April 7 @ VAN: 5-1 W
Upcoming Schedule:
- Saturday, April 11 vs MTL: 7 p.m. ET, TD Garden, Boston, MA (NESN, TSN, RDS, PWHL YouTube Channel)
- Wednesday, April 15 vs MIN: 7 p.m. ET, Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA (NESN, Scripps Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Network North, TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)
Catchphrase: “Beep beep!” —Roadrunner (Looney Tunes cartoons)
The Fleet, much like the Roadrunner, just keep speeding on by any obstacles in their way.
Boston did not miss a beat this week despite having over a week off in between games. Their date with the Goldeneyes had all the makings of a trap game for them, given the break, the fact that they were playing a non-playoff opponent sandwiched between meetings with the other top three teams, and that the TD Garden game was next up. But instead, Boston walked into Edmonton and steamrolled Vancouver. After struggling to score for weeks, the Fleet now have 13 goals in their past three games, and they’re getting them in a variety of ways. The power play is improving, the penalty kill remains strong, and at even strength, Boston has been unflappable. However, this week will be a huge test, with games against the other playoff-clinched teams. If they can walk out of it still in first (they sit one point back of the Victoire at the moment but are ahead in points percentage), it’s hard to imagine them slipping before the season wraps up on the 25th.
#2. x-Montréal Victoire (15-4-2-5, 55 points)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2 (-)
This Week’s Results:
- Friday, April 3 @ OTT: 3-0 W
- Tuesday, April 7 vs SEA: 4-1 W
Upcoming Schedule:
- Saturday, April 11 @ BOS: 7 p.m. ET, TD Garden, Boston, MA (TSN, RDS, NESN, PWHL YouTube Channel)
Catchphrase: “What’s up, Doc?” —Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes cartoons)
With a remarkable ability to causally pull any number of tricks out of their sleeve, the Victoire are the Bugs Bunny of the PWHL.
The Victoire continued their winning ways this week, and now have points in a PWHL record 13 straight games. Sandra Abstreiter secured one of, if not the, best shutouts of the season in Montréal’s first game of the week, turning aside 39 shots, many of which were high-danger, for her first PWHL shutout. Then, Montréal made relatively light work of a Torrent team on the brink of elimination. They now sit in first by points, albeit second by points percentage, and they’ll have a chance to get a little cushion on Saturday against the Fleet. In short, the Victoire’s vibes remain high.
#3. x-Minnesota Frost (12-3-4-6, 46 points)
Last Week’s Ranking: 3 (-)
This Week’s Results:
- Saturday, April 4 vs VAN: 6-5 W
Upcoming Schedule:
- Saturday, April 11 vs NYS: 12 p.m. CT, Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN (FanDuel Sports Network North, Sportsnet, PWHL YouTube Channel)
- Wednesday, April 15 @ BOS: 6 p.m. CT, Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA (FanDuel Sports Network North, Scripps Sports Network, NESN, TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)
Catchphrase: “Scooby-dooby-doo!” —Scooby-Doo (Scooby-Doo cartoons and movies)
They might make it scarier than necessary sometimes, but the Frost often emerge from games feeling pretty dang good about themselves.
It wasn’t pretty, but the Frost snapped their skid this week with a win over the struggling-even-worse Goldeneyes. Their defense and goaltending left something to be desired, but getting the offense back on track was priority number one. They did that and then some, with six goals, lots of slot shots, and 35 SOG total. Minnesota is a team built to outscore their problems, and if they lose that ability again, they’ll be looking at their first short playoff run. They’ll need to clean thing up at the other end of the ice and bring their A-game this week though, with meetings against the desperate Sirens and streaking first-place-by-points-percentage Fleet on the horizon.
#4. Toronto Sceptres (9-1-5-10, 34 points)
Last Week’s Ranking: 4 (-)
This Week’s Results:
- No games this week.
Upcoming Schedule:
- Saturday, April 11 vs OTT: 2 p.m. ET, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON (CBC, PWHL YouTube Channel)
- Wednesday, April 15 vs NYS: 7 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (TSN, MSG, PWHL YouTube Channel)
Catchphrase: “I’m smarter than the av-er-age bear!” —Yogi Bear (Yogi Bear cartoons)
The Sceptres are better than the average PWHL team, according to the standings. But that doesn’t mean they’re good.
The Sceptres have now had over a week to recharge their batteries for what will be a dogfight to the end for the final playoff spot. And boy, will they need their batteries fully charged this week. Games with both of their true opponents for that spot, Ottawa and New York, are on the docket, and they’re both at home, where Toronto has struggled mightily this season. If they can win both games, there’s a good chance they’ll find themselves playing May hockey. That said, they can probably survive a loss to the Sirens, but one to the Charge would cost them the inside track to the playoffs. In short, this is the biggest week of Toronto’s season, and it isn’t particularly close.
#5. New York Sirens (8-2-3-12, 31 points)
Last Week’s Ranking: 6 (+1)
This Week’s Results:
- Saturday, April 4 vs SEA: 2-1 SOW
Upcoming Schedule:
- Saturday, April 11 @ MIN: 1 p.m. ET, Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN (FanDuel Sports Network North, Sportsnet, PWHL YouTube Channel)
- Wednesday, April 15 vs TOR: 7 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (MSG, TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)
Catchphrase: “Looks like we’ve got another mystery on our hands!” —Fred Jones (Scooby-Doo cartoons and movies)
Looks like the Sirens are solidly back in the playoff race!
New York made their long-awaited debut at Madison Square Garden this week, and they made it count with a late-game comeback, headlined by Sarah Fillier. A regulation win would’ve been better, particularly considering their opponent, but two points are two points. Their playoff race opponents got zero this week, although Toronto didn’t play. They now sit just three points back of the Sceptres for the final playoff spot, and they play them this week. A win over Toronto and some points against Minnesota would keep the Sirens solidly in the playoff race, while a regulation loss to the Sceptres would all but spell their doom.
#6. Ottawa Charge (6-7-1-12, 33 points)
Last Week’s Ranking: 5 (-1)
This Week’s Results:
- Friday, April 3 vs MTL: 3-0 L
- Wednesday, April 8 vs SEA: 5-3 L
Upcoming Schedule:
- Saturday, April 11 @ TOR: 2 p.m. ET, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON (CBC, PWHL YouTube Channel)
Catchphrase: “Zoinks!” —Shaggy (Scooby-Doo cartoons and movies)
Two regulation losses have the Charge feeling awfully scared for their playoff lives.
Good news: Ottawa finally scored more than two goals in a game again. Bad news: they still managed to lose twice in regulation. The loss to Montréal is one thing, but the one to Seattle, a team that was one missed point away from elimination, is inexcusable at this stage of the season. Ottawa allowed two goals in the final two minutes to lose the game, and while they still sit just one point back of the final playoff spot, Toronto and New York each have a game in hand. They needed points this week to keep themselves in a good spot. If they lose to the Sceptres this weekend, and especially if they lose in regulation, it’s hard to see their season extending past April 25.
#7. Vancouver Goldeneyes (7-1-4-14, 27 points)
Last Week’s Ranking: 7 (-)
This Week’s Results:
- Saturday, April 4 @ MIN: 6-5 L
- Tuesday, April 7 vs BOS: 5-1 L
Upcoming Schedule:
- Tuesday, April 14 vs SEA: 7 p.m. PT, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC (Amazon Prime, Scripps Sports Network, PWHL YouTube Channel)
Catchphrase: “My glasses! I can’t see without my glasses!” —Velma (Scooby-Doo cartoons and movies)
Defense! You can’t win games without defense!
Defense was optional for the Goldeneyes this week, and it cost them dearly. Emerance Maschmeyer may have let in 11 goals, but she didn’t stand much of a chance in either game. Both shot charts can only be described as goalie torture, and while their offense was strong on Saturday, the same cannot be said of Tuesday. Their playoff hopes were dim as it was, but now they’re dead in the water. They play Seattle this week, and they’ll be just one or two missed points away from the Gold Plan, depending on the results of this week’s NYS-MIN game. Therefore, they’d be wise to lose so they can start accruing points toward the first overall pick, because Seattle is one mere missed point away from being there and could be eliminated this weekend. With how both these teams are playing, any head start over the other is going to be valuable, because it’s unlikely either will be able to steal many points the rest of the way.
#8. Seattle Torrent (7-1-3-15, 26 points)
Last Week’s Ranking: 8 (-)
This Week’s Results:
- Saturday, April 4 @ NYS: 2-1 SOL
- Tuesday, April 7 @ MTL: 4-1 L
- Wednesday, April 8 @ OTT: 5-3 W
Upcoming Schedule:
- Tuesday, April 14 @ VAN: 7 p.m. PT, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC (Scripps Sports Network, Amazon Prime, PWHL YouTube Channel)
Catchphrase: “The Ranger isn’t going to like this, Yogi!” —Boo Boo Bear (Yogi Bear cartoons)
Fans aren’t going to like that you’ve prolonged everyone’s suffering for another game, Seattle.
The Torrent were one measly lost point away from activating the Gold Plan heading into Wednesday’s game, and it looked like that would happen as the clock ticked down. However, Seattle scored two goals in the final two minutes to win in regulation, thus prolonging their suffering for another game. The good news is, unlike Vancouver, the Torrent can still be eliminated this weekend if the Sirens defeat the Frost. However, it would’ve been far smarter for Seattle to let a point slip away on Wednesday to guarantee they’re first into the Gold Plan. Now, Vancouver is right on their heels, and they’re actually going to have to battle hard for the first overall pick instead of being a shoo-in. If there’s one thing the Torrent are good at this season, it’s shooting themselves in the foot.