PWHL Frenzy: Milestones and Shakeups

It was an exciting night around the PWHL with the first-ever PWHL Frenzy, with all 8 teams in action, to close out the first half of the season before the Olympic break. The standings continued to shake up, so here’s the recap. 

Starting off the night in Montreal the Toronto Sceptres were looking to bounce back after falling in the standings off back-to-back losses, however the Victoire weren’t ready to give up their winning streak, extending it to three. The Sceptres continued to find chances but couldn't find their way past Ann-Renée Desbiens, who recorded her third shutout of the season.

For Montreal it was Natálie Mlýnková who opened the scoring. So far in her rookie campaign she has 4 goals and 2 assists. Adding to Montreal’s lead on the power-play was the Captain herself Marie Philip-Poulin. Rounding out the night was Shiann Darkangelo on the power-play to take the win 3-0. 

With the win the Montreal Victoire jumped up to second in the standing, but due to later games ended the night in third. While the Toronto Sceptres remained in 7th place.

Heading over to Boston, New York was looking to bounce back from a big loss in Minnesota, they wouldn’t be able to get it even with a late push to force overtime and then a shootout. With the win the Fleet remained undefeated at home, locking up 2 points in the win, Boston secured their number one spot heading into the Olympic break. 

Opening the scoring on the power-play was Fleet rookie, Abby Newhook, for her fourth goal of the season. In the second period the New York Sirens would take over the lead with a power-play goal from Kristen O’Neill and another from Kristýna Kaltounková. Starting off the third was Liz Schepers, less than a minute in evening the score, followed by Jamie Lee-Rattray to give Boston the lead. But New York wasn’t done yet with Kristýna Kaltounková capitalizing late in the third, for her 11th goal of the season, now leading the entire league, sending the game to overtime. Neither team was able to capitalize, sending the game to a shootout, where it was Alina Müeller that was the hero with back-to-back shootout goals to keep Boston undefeated at home. While the New York Sirens stay in fourth.

Moving over to Ottawa, the Torrent game to town looking to climb the standings, but Ottawa Charged back to get a 4-2 win, scoring 3 goals in the final 6 minutes. 

It was Hilary Knight that opened the scoring in the second, recording her 50th PWHL point, becoming just the 5th player to reach the milestone. The Torrent were able to hold their 1 goal lead heading into the third period. In the third it would be Fanuza Kadirova who struck first tying the game. Seattle would find an answer courtesy of Jessie Eldridge. Then Ottawa Charged it up for the last 6 minutes of the game with Rebecca Leslie getting back-to-back goals to take the lead. On her first goal Brianne Jenner recorded the primary assist for her 50th point, becoming the 6th player to reach the milestone, the second of the night. To close out the night it was Emily Clark, pushing the Charge to a 4-2 win. 

With the win Ottawa jumped back into 5th place overtaking the Vancouver Goldeneyes, while the Seattle Torrent remained at the bottom. 

Heading to the final game of the night in Minnesota, the Goldeneyes came to town looking to lock up their first road win not on the Takeover Tour, but the Frost froze over Grand Casino Arena, with another big win, jumping back to second in the standings heading into the break, while the Goldeneyes fell to sixth. 

Starting off the night was Frost rookie Kendall Cooper, with her first PWHL goal. Cooper has been having an incredible rookie campaign on the blue line, contributing 8 assists. On the goal Taylor Heise got the primary assist, becoming the 8th player and third of the night to reach the 50 point milestone. Later in the first it was Britta Curl-Salemme to extend the Frost's lead. But the party wasn’t done yet with Kelly Pannek scoring a buzzer beater in the last second, to take a 3-0 lead. In the second the Goldeneyes took over, finding lots of great looks, but Maddie Rooney continued holding it down for the Frost, only letting one in from Michelle Karvinen. Both teams continued to push but neither were able to capitalize, until the Goldeneyes pulled Campbell near the end of the third, when Britta Curl-Salemme found the empty netter for her second of the night. 

While the PWHL is on a month-long break, there’s a lot more hockey heading our way with the Olympic Women’s Hockey puck drop set for 6:10 a.m. EST February 5th. Be sure to tune in to see your favorite PWHL players on the international stage.