Playoff Race Tightens

Well it was another busy night in the PWHL as the playoff race continued moving Boston to the number one spot and New York right there in it. 

Boston Fleet vs Minnesota Frost 

With both teams already locked into the 2026 playoffs, the Fleet looked to inch closer to the number one spot, while Minnesota got themselves set up for another deep playoff run, while battling through several injuries.

Ahead of the match the Minnesota Frost announced that Natalie Buchbinder was officially moved to the LTIR, while Sam Cogan was activated and Kaitlyn O’Donohoe returned on another 10-day contract, the move seemed to signal other injuries to their lineup. As the Frost posted their Wednesday night lineup Grace Zumwinkle and Klára Hymlárová were notably missing, reportedly day-to-day due to upper-body injuries. With the playoffs right around the corner, it seems to be more precautionary than anything to avoid anything more serious. 

In the game it was Jessie Eldridge leading the way for the Fleet with her second two-goal game in their last three matchups, holding a 2-0 lead heading into the third. The Frost weren’t ready to go down with defender Kendall Cooper firing from the blue line that found its way through to get Minnesota on the board. But it wouldn’t take long for the Fleet to answer courtesy of Alina Müller. With the time counting down the Frost decided to pull goaltender, Nicole Hensley for a six-on-five advantage, that paid off with Kendall Cooper once again firing from the blueline this time finding a tip for Britta Curl-Salemme. Still down one goal, they pulled Hensley once again but the Fleet defence locked it down, securing the 3-2 win. 

New York Sirens vs Toronto Sceptres 

Heading into the match the Sirens were sitting three points behind Toronto and five points out of the final playoff spot. The Sirens looked to get back into the playoff action with a big win while the Sceptres looked to grow the gap. 

The game started with a back-and-forth first period, where Kayle Osbourne and Raygan Kirk held down the fort. In the second both teams had their chance on the power-play but neither team was successful. Toronto then headed back on the penalty kill, where Daryl Watts found a jailbreak goal to give the Sceptres the lead late in the second. 

In the third it was once again the Sceptres striking first with Ella Shelton .. giving Toronto a 2-0 advantage before the Sirens took it down the ice Denisa Křížová found her first goal with New York, cutting the Sceptres lead in half. With the newly found Sirens momentum and a poorly timed Toronto penalty, Maja Nylén Persson found the equalizer for New York. Just over a minute later Casey O’Brien buried another for the Sirens to take their first lead of the game, ultimately becoming the game-winning goal as the Sceptres offence faded finding only one shot with the empty net. 

With the regulation win New York is now tied with Toronto at 34 points both just two points behind the Ottawa Charge as the race for the final spot continues.

Up Next

The Boston Fleet visit the Montreal Victoire Friday night in a battle for the top, after their win against Minnesota the Fleet are only 1 point behind the Victoire. The top seed at the end of the regular season holds the advantage heading into playoffs with guaranteed home ice through both rounds and the ability to pick either the third or fourth seed to be their first round opponent. Though the advantage has seemed to be more of a curse with the top seed the last two seasons falling in the first round, seeing an early exit. With the history of the top seed advantage, it may not be one you want. 

Stay tuned for more PWHL news and updates as the final stretch of the regular season continues and we gear up for playoffs.