Photo @ Ellen Bond / The Hockey News
PWHL Power Rankings: Haves and Have Nots Becoming Clear
Before you know it, the PWHL season will be at the World Championship international break, and the playoff picture will be coming into focus. By the time the Worlds roll around, we could have teams playing for the first overall pick, not for the postseason. While anything can still change this PWHL season, the haves and the have nots are certainly becoming clear.
1. Toronto (Last Week: 2)
A seven game winning streak, Natalie Spooner continuing her goal scoring, and Kristen Campbell standing on her head. That's what we knew. What we know now is that other players like Sarah Nurse are really starting to heat up, Toronto is getting support from their secondary, and perhaps no team has better role players in their bottom six forward group right now. There's still room for improvement in their final defensive pairing, and Gina Kingsbury will certainly be looking at options for a second goalie because PWHL Toronto looks like they'll be in the hunt for the first ever PWHL title if they keep progressing the way they have. Road wins over Minnesota and Ottawa this week put Toronto back on top.
2. Montreal (Last Week: 1)
Montreal got on "if only" glimpse this week into what life could be like with a Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Melodie Daoust top line. The good news is for Montreal, they can use Daoust quite a bit heading down the stretch which should only boost their chances again. PWHL Montreal was clicking in their win against Boston this week. If there's a storyline to follow in Montreal (and Canada?), it's the brewing goaltending controversy. Few may have predicted Elaine Chuli could potentially steal the crease in Montreal, but she's miles ahead in all statistical categories in the PWHL this season, is the only undefeated goalie in the league, and is coming off backstopping the Toronto Six to a PHF title last year. It's a fantastic problem to have in Montreal.
3. Minnesota (Last Week: 4)
Welcome back Taylor Heise. That should be enough to boost Minnesota out of their mini-slump, which we saw Sunday with a 2-0 shutout over New York. Minnesota has been getting contributions from across the lineup, and absolutely stellar goaltending. Kelly Pannek is one of the most underrated players in the league, and she's putting some of the higher profile Team USA members to shame right now with her quiet leadership and two-way play.
Recommended Articles
4. Boston (Last Week: 3)
Boston is leaning heavily on one line, and it's biting them a bit. Of course Alina Muller, Susanna Tapani, and Hilary Knight are all players you'd expect to see on the ice a lot, but Boston needs to activate the scoring punch that so many thought would be their calling card. Riding Knight for as long as they have without results is beginning to backfire. Courtney Kessel needs to give more to Loren Gabel, Jamie Lee Rattray and others right now, because Boston has been unsuccessful as a one line show.
5. Ottawa (Last Week: 6)
Head to head, Ottawa got the win this week against New York boosting them out of the league's basement. It's been a tough go for Ottawa, and although the fan faithfuls are in love with Emerance Maschmeyer, there are technical concerns in her game that are becoming more clear. Seeing her drop back into a sitting position on the ice shows an issue in her stance that's causing her to fall back. In front of her, it's not much better. Missed assignments and players getting into bad defensive positioning above the puck and their opponent are leading to too many chances that just should not exist.
6. New York (Last Week: 5)
Ten active players on PWHL New York's roster have one point or none. That's a major concern when it comes to scoring depth. There are players whose shots per 60 minutes - Elizabeth Giguere and Madison Packer - look like they should be due for a jump in offense, but it hasn't happened yet. Corinne Schroeder continues to keep this team in games, but there are issues, and there are now rumblings that the roster is growing impatient with Howie Draper's approach. Abby Roque has more than double the penalty minutes of any player in the league, and her antics are hurting the team. Pascal Daoust was one of the most focused GMs heading into this season, but he has some difficult decisions ahead.
