The PWHL will have a five day break in their schedule following this week. It's a time for the league to catch its breath. Before that, here's four items to watch this week.
The PWHL will have a five day break in their schedule following this week. It's a time for the league to catch its breath. Before that, here's four items to watch this week.
The PWHL is heading toward a small break in their schedule that will last from January 29 to February 3. In that break the 24 players selected to participate in the PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase at NHL All-Star Thursday will compete on February 1. The time will also give the league and general managers their first breather to analyze how things have gone, examine rosters, and set a course for the next portion of the inaugural season.
With seven games on this week, here's five things to watching in the PWHL.
Will Sandra Abstreiter Make Her PWHL Debut?
Ottawa and Minnesota play rare sets of back-to-back games this week, an aspect of the PWHL schedule that is a uncommon this season. Ottawa goes first playing Tuesday and Wednesday at home against Toronto and Boston. Minnesota has a difficult turn around playing at 4pm in Lowell on Saturday followed by a 1pm game on Sunday in Bridgeport.
For Ottawa, it may be the first time this season we see German netminder Sandra Abstreiter who is the lone back up goaltender in the PWHL who has yet to appear in a game. Some of that is due to the fact Ottawa had a game postponed, while some of that is also due to the steady play of Emerance Maschmeyer. Toronto also looked to play only their starter Kristen Campbell, but Erica Howe made her season debut when the team pulled Campbell in a game. With back-to-back games on the schedule, it's likely we see Abstreiter make her pro hockey debut this week.
National Team Stars Looking To Snap Slumps
Certainly Hilary Knight opening her first four games of the PWHL season without a point wasn't on the bingo card of many. The pro game however, favours different skill sets and styles compared to international play. Last season in the PWHPA with Team Sonnet, Knight finished 23rd in scoring with 10 points in 18 games, and the PWHPA was weaker competition across the board than the PWHL this year. On a line with the likes of Alina Muller and Loren Gabel, it's hard to believe Knight hasn't acquired so much as a secondary assist, but it's a streak that can't last long.
Knight is not alone however. National team stars Brianne Jenner (Ottawa), Blayre Turnbull (Toronto), Becca Gilmore (Ottawa), Aneta Tejralova (Ottawa), and Dominika Laskova (Montreal) are all without a point, as are notable names like Elizabeth Giguere (New York), Madison Packer (New York), Sophie Jaques (Boston), Kali Flanagan (Toronto), Shiann Darkangelo (Boston), and Akane Shiga (Ottawa). The good news is, netminder and Canadian national team member Emerance Maschmeyer has an assist, and sits above this star power in league scoring.
Toronto Looks To Add More Pluses Than Minuses
Minnesota, New York, and Ottawa all have positive goals for/against ratios. Montreal is even with 16 for and 16 against. Boston, who sits third in the standings, is a -2 with nine for and 11 against. Then there's Toronto, who is currently sitting with a -9 goal differential.
That translates to individual performances as well as five of the league's bottom seven plus/minus performers are from Toronto. Defenders Renata Fast and Allie Munroe are both -6 through six games, followed by Emma Maltais and Blayre Turnbull at -5, and Sarah Nurse at -4. It's too many top names to be sitting where they are in that stat line.
While a lot of attention has been paid to Kristen Campbell's .876 save percentage and 3.36 GAA, Toronto's team defence has been leaky. They will look to build on the momentum they gained in Montreal, including a solid shootout performance from Campbell, facing Ottawa on Tuesday and New York on Friday before entering into a six day break in their schedule.
Watch For More Consistent Body Checking Calls
The first three weeks of the PWHL season were a bit of a wild west. Bodies were flying everywhere in the fast and physical style the league has developed. At times however, blatant penalties were being overlooked as PWHL officials, and the league, looked to find where the "line" of legal versus illegal fell. If there was a moment that felt like the "line" had been clearly spotted, it was a Kati Tabin hit against Maggie Connors in Toronto's shootout win over Montreal. On the play, Connors came down the left boards before being plowed over by Tabin. The referee raised their hand, but only seconds later, Natalie Spooner scored negating the would-be Montreal penalty. The hit however, was one of several examples the league has certainly been collecting to better inform officials. Look for things to get a little more consistent this week, which could result in more penalties. If it takes another week, the upcoming break in the PWHL's schedule will be a valuable time to iron out these details.