PWHL Minnesota will live to play another game after flipping the script on PWHL Toronto. Minnesota shutout Toronto 2-0 in what could have been a deciding game three.
PWHL Minnesota will live to play another game after flipping the script on PWHL Toronto. Minnesota shutout Toronto 2-0 in what could have been a deciding game three.
PWHL Minnesota lives on.
Minnesota forces game four following a dominant 2-0 win over Toronto at the Xcel Energy Center off an 18-save shutout from Maddie Rooney.
Maggie Flaherty’s game-winning goal — the first in Minnesota playoff history — was the difference maker Monday night in a do-or-die contest in the State of Hockey.
Minnesota opened the first period hungry. The home side jumped on loose pucks, hounded Toronto defenders and controlled the puck for most of the frame.
Their speed, forechecking and all-around suffocating play drew two tripping penalties, first on Sarah Nurse, then Kali Flanagan. While they could not capitalize on the player advantage, Minnesota’s special teams managed to maintain their momentum through crisp passing, one-time opportunities and shots from the point with net front traffic.
The game remained scoreless after one, with Minnesota outshooting Toronto 11-2.
After Rooney saved a close call by Toronto, Minnesota finally found the back of the net.
After going scoreless for the first 142:12 of its opening round series, Maggie Flaherty’s point shot through traffic beat Campbell blocker-side for Minnesota’s first playoff goal in team history.
Later, Liz Schepers dumped the puck in on Campbell from the neutral zone. The puck hit Campbell, dropped to the ice, and Denisa Křížová beat Allie Munroe to the puck to capitalize on the confusion and double Minnesota’s lead.
Minnesota continued to dominate possession through the second period’s last 11 minutes. The State of Hockey squad got, and failed to score, on another power play chance, racked up high-danger opportunities and played their best hockey since before the IIHF World Championship break.
Penalties to either side and back-and-forth play riddled the final frame, but a questionable hit left Toronto’s head coach Troy Ryan upset.
With 8:40 remaining in the game, Grace Zumwinkle hit Natalie Spooner along Toronto’s bench. Spooner, unable to get on her feet, managed to get off the ice as play continued.
Spooner went to the dressing room and did not return to the game.
Toronto continued to push for a tally without their leading goal-scorer, but clutch saves from Rooney prevented them from getting on the scoreboard.
Game three in Minnesota is the first time the Canadian club was held off the scoresheet since the PWHL’s inaugural game on January 1.
Going Forward
Minnesota arguably played the best game of its season on Monday. While Toronto picked up steam in the third period, the sheer dominance displayed through the first 40 minutes is a type of hockey reminiscent of what Minnesota fans saw before the world championship break.
Rooney stopping 46 of 47 over the last two games, the defense’s clogging of the neutral zone and Minnesota finally solving Campbell leave the team in a hopeful position exiting game three.
However, a spot in the championship is still an uphill battle as Toronto holds a 2-1 series lead.
Minnesota looks to tie its best-of-five series at two apiece Wednesday night on home ice and force an all-or-nothing game five in Toronto. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. CT, 8:00 p.m. ET.