Here Are The PWHL's Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Toronto and Minnesota can clinch PWHL playoff spots tonight, while Montreal can also secure their playoff spot this week. Here's how it could all play out.

In their weekly briefings, the PWHL explained the various scenarios that could result in playoff spots being secured this week. For Toronto and Minnesota, it's as simple as winning a game.

Here's a look at how each team can clinch their spot in the 2024 PWHL playoffs.

Toronto (10-3-0-6) is in first place in the standings with 36 points and need just one point to punch their postseason ticket. Their first opportunity to clinch is on Thursday night in Boston and would come by virtue of a win or an overtime/shootout loss. If Toronto loses to Boston in regulation on Thursday, their next opportunity to clinch would be on Saturday afternoon with either a win or an overtime/shootout loss against Montréal, or if Boston is unable to defeat New York in regulation.

Minnesota (8-4-3-4) is in second place in the standings with 35 points and can also secure a playoff berth on Thursday night in Montréal. They have three ways to do so, including a regulation win, an overtime/shootout victory combined with two or less points earned by Boston in their matchup against Toronto, or else an overtime/shootout loss against Montréal combined with a Boston loss to Toronto. Minnesota’s next opportunity to clinch would come on Saturday in Ottawa.

Montréal (7-3-4-5) is in third place in the standings with 31 points and could clinch on Saturday following favourable results between their Thursday game against Minnesota and Saturday game against Toronto, which are also dependent on Boston’s outcome against Toronto on Thursday and a matchup with New York on Saturday.

Ottawa (7-0-6-6) is in fourth place in the standings with 27 points and need 11 points to exceed Boston’s total points potential. Boston (4-4-2-9) is in fifth place with 22 points and can still finish with as high as 37 points. New York (3-4-3-9) is in sixth place with 20 points and can still finish with as high as 35 points. Based on the current standings, no team may be eliminated from playoff contention before games played on April 24.