The PWHL is returning from their longest international break of the season for the IIHF women's World Championships. The tournament saw many of the PWHL's top players in action with USA winning gold. Players also comepted at the Division 1A World Championships where Anna Mexiner (Ottawa Charge) and Theresa Schafzahl (Boston Fleet) helped Austria earn promotion for the first time in the nation's history.
With three games remaining for each of the PWHL's six teams, and only the Montreal Victoire with a playoff spot locked, there is plenty to watch down the stretch in the PWHL.
Here's a look at one question facing each PWHL team as the league hits the restart button.
Boston Fleet: Is Aerin Frankel ok?
As much as American fans breathed a sigh of relief when Gwyneth Philips backstopped USA to gold, the fact she was in the net at all is worrisome for the Boston Fleet. Frankel came out of the crease midway through the third period of the gold medal after a big collision with Laura Stacey, and did not return. One regulation win in their final three games should be enough to get Boston into the PWHL playoffs, but they sit only two points ahead of fifth place Minnesota, and one point ahead of fourth place Ottawa. Nothing is guaranteed. What's more concerning for Boston is they haven't played confidently in front of Emma Soderberg this season, and the team hasn't given Klara Peslarova a chance. Peslarova and Soderberg played crucial moments for Czechia and Sweden respectively at Worlds, so they're both coming back sharpened and ready. That said, Frankel, named Best Goaltender at Worlds, is in a class of her own in the PWHL, and Boston is a better team with her in net. Is she ok? Fleet fans sure hope so.
Minnesota Frost: Can Minnesota avoid another post-Worlds losing streak?
They'll need to get to the playoffs first, but a large chunk of Minnesota's roster is coming back from Worlds with gold medals around their necks, and eyes on another Walter Cup. Lee Stecklein was a force at Worlds for USA, and Kelly Pannek broke out playing some of the best hockey of her career.
Minnesota scraped into the 2024 playoffs, and they'll need to do so this year again currently sitting two points out. Last year following Worlds Minnesota lost five straight games. Playing New York, Ottawa, and Boston in their final three games, Minnesota is up against a group of desperate teams.
Montreal Victoire: Can their top line keep it going?
Marie-Philip Poulin was named tournament MVP and led the Worlds in scoring with 12 points in seven games. Jennifer Gardiner led the tournament in goals with six, and was second in points with 10 in seven games. Laura Stacey tied for fourth in World Championship scoring with eight points in seven games. The trio, who played as a line for Canada and make up Montreal's top line were dominant.
Montreal stumbled into the international break, and will looked to blast out of it to maintain top spot in the league. Their top line will be crucial to that effort, if they can keep it going.
New York Sirens: Where will the Sirens pick?
Let's get real, it's going to take two unicorns, a leprechaun who just harvested four-leaf clovers, and a shipment of horseshoes to get the New York Sirens into the playoffs. Sirens fans should sit back and enjoy final three games, but they should also be watching PWHL expansion news, reportedly heading to Vancouver and Seattle, with bated breath. Why? After finishing last in the inaugural 2024 season, the New York Sirens were able to select superstar Sarah Fillier first overall. This year, even if they finish last, and even if they earn the top pick through the Gold Plan, there's no guarantee they'll actually pick first. That honor is likely reserved for the PWHL's new expansion team(s). In fact, it's more likely the Sirens will pick third, or fourth based on their finish to the season. Assuming Abbey Murphy is off the table either due to declaration, or the fact she'll go top two in the draft, that leaves Kristyna Kaltounkova, Haley Winn, and Casey O'Brien as the next cohort. If New York happens to slip to fourth, all bets are off and the team will look at the second wave which includes Nicole Gosling, Natalie Mlynkova, Rory Guilday, and perhaps Lacey Eden. It's a bit of a let down that Sirens fans won't see what a forward group including Murphy, Fillier, and Alex Carpenter can do. It will be a significant let down if they can't get Kaltounkova, Winn, or O'Brien.
Ottawa Charge: Can Ottawa manage the highs and lows?
Gwyneth Philips is returning to Ottawa on an Everest level high. Entering the gold medal game midway through the third, she was spectacular making 17 saves including 10 in three-on-three overtime turning aside the best Canada had to offer.
Anna Meixner might be the boost Ottawa needs coming off an incredible performance at the Division 1A Worlds where she led Austria to promotion to the top division at Worlds for the first time ever. Can she step up in the PWHL and carry over her high?
Katerina Mrazova played well at Worlds, but revealed to media she was playing with two broken bones and a torn ligament in her wrist. It's not the kind of news a pro league wants to hear when a player is taken off LTIR to play internationally...especially when it was well known she was not fully ready. But she played well, and if she didn't use what's in the tank, she can help Ottawa get over their hump...but....
There will be an emotional toll on many in Ottawa, specifically their Czech national team players including Mrazova, Tereza Vanisova, and Aneta Tejralova who entered yet another game up 3-0 heading to the third, and lost. It's a bronze medal implosion that will haunt them, much like Ottawa's implosion only weeks prior impacted the team. Coach Carla MacLeod needs to figure out how to keep her team together for a full 60 minutes or Ottawa's season is over. Entering on a low, this group needs to get lifted, quickly. Worlds were a chance to erase any doubt this group had in their direction, but the haunting replication of a painful blown loss will loom.
The final low Ottawa will need to watch is the psyche of defender Jocelyne Larocque. Larocque had been playing well for Ottawa leading into Worlds, and had a good World Championship...until overtime of the gold medal game. In OT she gave the puck away multiple times including an aimless pass to the stick of Taylor Heise and the rest is history.
There's a lot mental baggage following the Charge home from Worlds. Will it impact their season?
Toronto Sceptres: Who will step up for Toronto?
Last year Toronto finished first in the PWHL but were ousted in the opening round of playoffs. This year, Toronto is deeper, and made several roster moves from the free agent signings of Daryl Watts and Emma Woods, to drafting Julia Gosling and Megan Carter, to a blockbuster midseason trade.
Daryl Watts was stellar for Canada at Worlds, and Kristen Campbell shook off the doubts and played well in net for Canada. 14 members of Toronto played at Worlds, and most played well. Natalie Spooner finding herself a healthy scratch multiple times shows where Troy Ryan sees her impact heading down the stretch, but it would be unwise to count out Spooner, who can elevate her game unlike many in the world.
Toronto hasn't had the consistency they had last year, and will need someone outside of Watts and Hannah Miller to step forward and make a difference. If they get that in the final three games, finishing first isn't out of the question, and challenging for a Walter Cup is a realistic goal.