For the first time in history, four PWHL games were played on a single day. Informally dubbed the “Ultimate Send-Off”, Wednesday was the last day on the schedule before the league pauses for its international break.
Here’s a brief recap of Wednesday’s games:
Toronto 0 at Montreal 3
The Sceptres aren’t the only hockey team in Toronto that’s bound to miss the playoffs. Like their slumping neighbours that play down the road at Scotiabank Arena, the Sceptres continue to look outmatched at every turn. For the second straight game, coach Troy Ryan’s squad was shutout, extending the team’s goalless drought to 131 minutes, 50 seconds. It was Toronto’s seventh loss in the past eight games; all but one of those defeats coming in regulation, costing the team valuable standings points.
Conversely, Montreal won its third game in a row on the strength of solid goaltending from Ann-Renee Desbiens, who recorded her third shutout of the year. Desbiens’s play is good news for Team Canada; the netminder is projected to be her country’s starter at the Olympics.
Natalie Mylnkova, Marie-Philip Poulin and Shiann Darkangelo scored for Montreal.
“It’s frustrating, the spot that we’re in right now. In the second half, after the Olympic break, we’re going to have to find a way to climb out of it. We’ve just got to be a little bit more difficult to play against,” Ryan said to reporters at game’s end.
Seattle 2 at Ottawa 4
It was Brianne Jenner bobblehead night at TD Place, but Charge linemate Rebecca Leslie was the first star of the game, netting a pair of goals including the game-winner. Leslie’s second tally of the game came on an Ottawa power play with just 30 seconds left in regulation; Seattle defender Megan Carter whistled for cross checking in the final minute.
Fanuza Kadriova had Ottawa’s first goal, and Emily Clark rounded out the scoring. Seattle’s Jessie Eldridge had a goal and an assist. The Torrent’s opening tally was registered by none other than Team USA star Hilary Knight, who has announced that the forthcoming Winter Games will be her final Olympics.
“Yeah, it’s fun, but obviously I think regardless of the bobbleheads or not, we needed those three points, and I thought we really hung in there and found a way,” said Jenner, who is suiting up for her fourth Olympics for Team Canada. “We’ve been really great in the third period this season and I think we did again tonight.”
New York 3 at Boston 4 (SO)
Fleet star Alina Muller netted a pair of shootout goals to lead her team to its third straight win; the last two coming via shootout. Switzerland’s opponents at the Olympics would be wise to prepared against Muller’s scoring prowess.
Meanwhile, Boston goalie Aerin Frankel notched her ninth win of the year, tying her with Ann-Renee Desbiens of Montreal for the league lead, and potentially setting up an Olympic gold medal duel between the two netminders. The Fleet had goals from Abby Newhook, Liz Schepers and Jamie Lee Rattray.
New York’s rookie sensation Kristyna Kaltounkova scored twice to elevate her season total to eleven goals, taking over the league lead. She is one of eight PWHL players who will be representing Team Czechia at next month’s Winter Games. “No matter what, we focus on what our group wants to do, which is to come back and continue what we’ve been doing—playing together and playing the right way. We don’t want to be discouraged by the loss; it’s more of a motivation for us,” Kaltounkova said.
Milan-bound Kristin O’Neill also scored for the Sirens. O’Neill will be playing for Team Canada at her first Olympics after being a member of the 2022 taxi squad.
Vancouver 1 at Minnesota 4
Six Olympians registered at least a point in Thursday’s game at Grand Casino Arena, led by Team USA’s Britta Curl-Salemme who had two goals. Frost rookie Kendall Cooper notched her first career PWHL goal, and Kelly Pannek chipped in with a power play marker, a buzzer-beater to close out the first period.
Taylor Heise had two points to become the fifth player in league history to reach 50 points, behind Marie-Philip Poulin, Daryl Watts, Alex Carpenter and Kendall Coyne Schofield. The win pushed Minnesota past Montreal into second place in the PWHL standings.
Michelle Karvinen, heading to Milan for an incredible fifth Olympics with Team Finland, had Vancouver’s only goal. Vancouver defender Claire Thompson will be heading to her second Winter Games with Team Canada.
“The run up to the Olympics this year with the PWHL looks very different than any year in history,” Thompson said. “We’re really lucky to be able to play best-on-best women’s hockey all season long; in the seasons leading up to the Olympics in the past, the national teams have centralized together. So, I’m really excited for the product that will be on display at the Olympics in a week.”
Around the league
New York’s Taylor Girard had her suspension reduced from four games to three after a successful appeal. She had been suspended for a post-game altercation versus Montreal on January 18, and is now eligible to return on February 26 against the same opponents; the first league game after the Olympic break…Of the 230 players who will be playing on the ten Olympics teams, 61 play in the PWHL this year.
The PWHL is collaborating with legendary musicians The Tragically Hip to release a limited edition merchandise collection. “The Tragically Hip have been a throughline in both my hockey and personal life growing up in Kingston, Ontario, capturing the spirit of our sport through their enduring storytelling while continuing to advocate for and give back to women’s sports and their local communities,” said Jayna Hefford, Executive Vice President, Hockey Operations, PWHL. “It’s surreal to see The Tragically Hip shield alongside our PWHL logo, and I’m looking forward to wearing the collection and sharing it with our fans.”
Some of The Tragically Hip’s most notable songs are famously hockey-themed, including “Fifty Mission Cap”, “Fireworks” and “At The Lonely End of the Rink.”
