Many picked Boston as the PWHL’s preseason favorite, but it was Minnesota who stole the show on night one. As Alex Wauthy writes, here were Minnesota’s keys to success.
Many picked Boston as the PWHL’s preseason favorite, but it was Minnesota who stole the show on night one. As Alex Wauthy writes, here were Minnesota’s keys to success.
PWHL Minnesota narrowly escaped the Tsongas Center Wednesday night as they spoiled Boston's home opener, winning 3-2 in front of a raucous 4000-plus-person crowd.
Nicole Hensley stopped 33 of 35 shots, Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle scored in their professional league debuts, and Minnesota sits atop the PWHL standings alongside New York.
Hensley Stole the Show
Hensley stole the show at the Tsongas Center. The olympian's efforts stifled Boston's home crowd as she earned player of the game honors and was named the night's first star.
Throughout the contest, Hensley stopped multiple wrap-around attempts and high-danger chances and even got aggressive by intercepting the odd pass.
Her stellar efforts were noticeable all night, but Hensley faced her toughest battle in the game’s final frame. Minnesota took three penalties in the third period and relinquished 13 shots. Despite the various hurdles, Hensley stood tall.
Arguably, her most iconic save came just before the second period's final buzzer. With seconds remaining, Hilary Knight came streaking into Minnesota's zone and rifled a slap shot at the top of the left hash marks. Hensley flashed the leather, stopping her Team USA teammate.
"Nicole was outstanding, she was calm, cool, and collected," Minnesota head coach Ken Klee told reporters following the game. "I had a comfortable ability with her, and she did an awesome job tonight."
Heise Is Here
Despite being a first-year pro, the expectations placed on Taylor Heise are massive. Minnesota selected the hometown player first overall in the inaugural PWHL draft, and less than five minutes into her debut, she made her mark on the franchise.
Heise picked off an errant pass from Knight in the neutral zone. She skated into Boston's end and drove to the right hash marks, putting a stickless Jessica Digirolamo on her heels. Heise made it to the dot of the right hash mark and ripped a shot past Aerin Frankel—in fitting fashion, the first-overall pick in the PWHL draft netted PWHL Minnesota's first goal in franchise history.
Heise got reps on the top penalty kill and power play unit and will be heavily relied on going forward.
Minnesota's Promising Penalty Kill
Minnesota's 75% success rate on the penalty kill last night is a promising sign and a significant factor in their victory.
One of the biggest question marks surrounding Minnesota's roster entering the season was their defensive depth. Lee Stecklein is the perfect defensive defender to build a blue line around, and Maggie Flaherty is a solid, young number two option, but question marks began to rise after that. However, a three-penalty game by Stecklein put Minnesota's special teams and defensive depth to the test.
Her first infraction came near the end of the first period. With Minnesota already up 2-0, thanks to nearly identical goals from Heise and Sophia Kunin, an end-of-frame marker would have stung. The penalty kill kept Boston to the outside, jumped on loose pucks, and prevented shots from reaching the net.
Minnesota continued this trend on their next penalty kill without Stecklein. They continued to pick off passes, clog the passing lane, and made it hard for Boston to set up. Mellissa Channell and Emma Greco, in particular, stood out.
Boston did break Minnesota's perfect record late in the third. Stecklein tripped Megan Keller, and it was Keller who eventually found the back of the net on the ensuing power play. Keller's seeing-eye slapshot beat Hensley, making Minnesota go three-for-four while short-handed.
Their sole penalty kill with Stecklein came early in the third period. With Minnesota's top defender on the ice, the unit continued some of their good habits but also let Boston’s lethal power play setup. However, Minnesota felt Stecklein's presence, as she saved a surefire goal by blocking Sophie Jaques' shot.
Heise and Coyne made up the forwards on the top penalty-killing unit, proving to be the do-it-all players as advertised before the season. They stripped players along the boards while their active sticks in the high slot frequently deflected passes from their intended target.
Going without your top defender for three penalty kills is challenging, but Minnesota passed the test, proving their defensive depth can take on tough assignments.
Preparing for Saturday
Minnesota heads home after defeating Boston, with practice scheduled for Friday. They make their home debut on Jan. 6 against Montreal; however, an intriguing trend has popped up through the PWHL's first three games—the road team has proved victorious in each match.
New York shut out Toronto at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Jan. 1, Montreal won an overtime thriller in Ottawa, and Minnesota took down Boston.
While Toronto hopes to get revenge on New York and play spoiler tonight, Minnesota is looking to avoid this fate as Marie-Philip Poulin and PWHL Montreal make their way to the State of Hockey.
Regardless, Minnesota will have a passionate crowd awaiting them in Saint Paul at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday as they continue to release more rows of tickets to keep up with the high demand.