Minnesota has yet to score on the power play, a point they'll look to rectify as they attempt to get back into the win column against Ottawa.
Minnesota has yet to score on the power play, a point they'll look to rectify as they attempt to get back into the win column against Ottawa.
PWHL Minnesota (3-0-1-0) looks to get back in the win column as they head north to TD Place to take on PWHL Ottawa (1-0-1-0).
Minnesota hits the road as they look to rebound after blowing a 2-0 lead against PWHL New York last Sunday. Despite their dominant first period, two power-play goals by New York and a sensational performance by Corinne Schroeder, who stopped 39 of 41 shots, left Minnesota on the losing end for the first time this season.
Entering tonight's matchup against Ottawa, fans should look toward Minnesota's power play as they look to widen their one-point lead atop the PWHL standings.
Minnesota Goalless on the Power play
Minnesota is first in the PWHL despite being the only team yet to score on the power play. While this statistic looks bad, their power play opportunities have been scarce compared to other PWHL clubs.
Minnesota is averaging the lowest power plays per game of any PWHL team this season, getting, on average, two chances with the advantage. Additionally, their eight total opportunities tie them for second-last in the league with Ottawa and place them one ahead of last-place Boston—both Ottawa and Boston have played two fewer games.
However, going eight power plays without a goal still leaves more to be desired. But this is not to say their power play has looked lackluster. Minnesota looks lethal with the player advantage, and more often than not, they find success sustaining pressure, winning board battles and cycling the puck to generate scoring opportunities.
To put it plainly, Minnesota just hasn't found the back of the net yet. Tonight will offer another chance to see their first power-play goal, and there is arguably no better team to net it against, as Ottawa enters with a perfect penalty kill.
Players to Watch
Grace Zumwinkle
Surprisingly, Grace Zumwinkle is without a point through her last two games. The Excelsior, Minnesota native was noticeable on every shift in Minnesota’s loss to New York. Most notably, her best opportunity came in overtime on a penalty shot. As Sunday's final shows, Zumwinkle didn’t score on the opportunity, and New York's Emma Woods potted the game-winning goal moments later.
Despite the loss, Zumwinkle put a game-high seven shots on the net. This high number continues an early trend in her young PWHL career.
Zumwinkle loves getting shots on the net. She leads Minnesota in shots by eight—19 to Taylor Heise's 11—and is fourth in overall shots in the PWHL, is averaging 4.75 shots per game, and led her team in shots in three of Minnesota's four contests—Zumwinkle placed second behind Susanna Tapani in their opening game versus Boston.
Zumwinkle's four goals are tied for the league lead across the PWHL—only Marie-Philip Poulin matches her early season totals. Expect Zumwinkle to come out flying against Ottawa and put pucks on the net just as she has through her first four games.
Kateřina Mrázová
Only one player on Ottawa's roster scored in both games to start the season—Kateřina Mrázová. The Czech forward centers Ottawa's high-speed third line, with Daryl Watts and Akane Shiga on her wings. Together, the trio have arguably been Ottawa's most consistent line through their first two games and will look to continue the trend tonight as they host Minnesota.
Mrázová's goals have come at timely moments. Her first goal in the PWHL gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead in the third period against Montreal, and her second marker of the season kicked off the scoring in Ottawa's blowout, 5-1 win, over Toronto at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Jan. 13.
Mrázová has a nose for the net. She knows how to get open and has a solid crease-front presence, which allows her to bury second-chance opportunities while going undetected in the offensive zone.
Minnesota looks to remain flawless in regulation as they play their first game North of the border. Catch the game on Bally Sports North Extra or stream it on TSN+ or the PWHL's official YouTube channel. Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m. CST, 7:00 p.m. EST.