Taylor Heise scored her first of the PWHL playoffs which turned out to be the game winner for PWHL Minnesota as they completed the reverse sweep of Toronto.
Taylor Heise scored her first of the PWHL playoffs which turned out to be the game winner for PWHL Minnesota as they completed the reverse sweep of Toronto.
Minnesota completed the reverse sweep of Toronto in stunning fashion, defeating the PWHL's first-seed 4-1 at Coca-Cola Coliseum Friday night.
Maddie Rooney continued her sensational play, stopping 27 of 28 drives from the home side as Taylor Heise notched two goals, including the game-winner, to send Minnesota to the Walter Cup Final.
After a scoreless first period, Minnesota's power play finally found the back of the net.
Kelly Pannek's netside shot beat Kristen Campbell but banked off the post. The puck bounced out to Denisa Křížová, who buried the first power-play goal of the series between either team.
Moments later, Victoria Bach streaked into Minnesota's end, drove wide and sent a saucer pass over an outstretched Maggie Flaherty. The puck found Rebecca Leslie, who potted the game-tying goal 38 seconds after Minnesota took the lead.
The game remained tied entering the second intermission, but Minnesota's power play double-upped in the third.
Toronto's top defensive defender, Jocelyn Larocque, got sent to the penalty box. On the ensuring opportunity, the first-overall pick in the inaugural PWHL draft made her mark.
Heise got the puck at the left hashmark, inched in and rifled a shot past Campbell, silencing Toronto's home fans.
It was only a matter of time for Heise to leave her mark on this series, and it came at no better point for her hometeam squad.
Toronto only managed two shots on net after Heise put Minnesota up 2-1 with 11:30 remaining in the game. Rooney made stops when needed and Minnesota’s defense stifled any push Toronto made as the clock ticked down.
Sophia Kunin and Heise tallied empty-netters, securing the reverse sweep for Minnesota and ensuring the Walter Cup will be an All-American showdown between themselves and Boston.
Power Play Finally Clicks
Minnesota's power play came alive at the eleventh hour. An area that struggled throughout the regular season and through the series' first four games was the difference maker against Toronto, as they went 2-for-3 on the player advantage.
Toronto's top defensive defender taking two penalties will help Minnesota's offensive weapons generate higher-danger scoring chances. However, even when Larocque was on the ice, Minnesota managed to cause chaos in front of Campbell, mount offensive pressure and get good looks.
With Boston owning the PWHL's worst power play and second-worst penalty kill in the regular season — Minnesota is second-last and last, respectively — the Walter Cup Final will likely come down to whose special teams execute at a higher rate.
Shipping Off To Boston
Four-seed Minnesota will ship off to Boston as game one of the PWHL Final commences Sunday afternoon. Unlike Boston, who's been resting since Tuesday after sweeping Montreal, Minnesota has just Saturday to reload before they hit the ice again.
Both teams are riding red-hot goaltending in Rooney —.979 SV%, 0.45 GAA — and Aerin Frankel — .972 SV%, 0.97 GAA — and clutch goal scoring.
Game one of the Walter Cup Final kicks off Sunday at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. Puck drop is at 5:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. CT.