PWHL Minnesota's playoff hopes turned around when they inserted netminder Maddie Rooney to the crease. The Hockey News' Ian Kennedy looks at the goalie's impact.
PWHL Minnesota's playoff hopes turned around when they inserted netminder Maddie Rooney to the crease. The Hockey News' Ian Kennedy looks at the goalie's impact.
PWHL Minnesota looked out of it. They didn't score a goal in their first two PWHL playoff games against first place Toronto. They'd floundered into the playoffs losing five straight before losing their opening two games of the postseason.
Nicole Hensley allowed four goals in the opener, but things changed quickly after that for Minnesota.
Why?
Maddie Rooney.
Rooney came in for game two, where she played a scoreless duel against Kristen Campbell until Toronto broke the deadlock with 1:25 remaining in the game. She made 28 saves in the the loss.
Since then, Rooney has not allowed another goal shutting out Toronto with 18 and 19 save performances. Minnesota also shut down Toronto's rush, and in game four the absence of Natalie Spooner was also evident.
Rooney was an undrafted free agent signing in Minnesota, but her team has responded in the playoffs to her entrance. Rooney herself has posted a 0.29 GAA and .985 save percentage in her three starts.
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