Hilary Knight, Nicole Hensley, and Sophie Jaques discuss more travel, less rest, more physicality, and longer series' in a format new to North American women's hockey.
For athletes in the PWHL, long playoff runs are not the norm. Last year was the first season the PHF used a series in their opening round, but reverted to a single game final for the Isobel Cup. The PWHPA and PHF have traditionally used single elimination games for their playoffs, not best-of-five series like they're competing in this season in the PWHL. Similarly, that's been the format for the NCAA national tournament, and IIHF play.
This postseason, there have been more games, more overtimes, less rest, more travel, and more physicality than any league in North American's women's hockey has seen. Some European leagues have playoff series, but for the bulk of the PWHL, who have been raised playing in North America, this is uncharted territory.
"This is the most I've ever travelled for playoffs throughout my entire career," said Minnesota's Sophie Jaques, "And it's also been the longest series that I've ever played in before so just making sure really prioritizing recovery."
The focus on recovery is a point that was echoed by PWHL Boston's Hilary Knight. For many athletes in the PWHL, this type of recovery has not been an option either as many had to return to day jobs or classes between games in their previous leagues.
"I think the recovery is a little bit different," said Boston captain Hilary Knight. "It's everyone's first having this type of contact, having this deep of a playoff run, having five-on-five fully played out like a true game should at this point in the season. You're just maintaining and doing what you can to help the team in different scenarios and really taking care of yourself."
According to Nicole Hensley, there are also benefits to this situation. Most notably, in a single elimination scenario, one bounce, one call, one lapse can end a season or tournament. Now, teams are able to make adjustments and come back stronger. It's the model that has worked for Minnesota who fell behind 2-0 in their opening round series against Toronto, and lost their opening game against Boston before winning game two.
"I think we're very used to playing one and done," said Minnesota netminder Nicole Hensley, "And every single game we play is kind of life or death, so it's been a little bit of an adjustment to, you know, you get to go back and kind of correct some things and come out the next day."
With the PWHL's Walter Cup finals now tied 1-1, it guarantees the finals will go beyond the minimum three games, meaning women's hockey fans will get a little more action in the PWHL's inaugural season before the offseason arrives.