The PWHL's six goaltending duos have had varying degrees of success this season, some more than expected, others less. Here's a look at a re-rank of the PWHL's top goaltending duos heading into the final days of the season.
The PWHL's six goaltending duos have had varying degrees of success this season, some more than expected, others less. Here's a look at a re-rank of the PWHL's top goaltending duos heading into the final days of the season.
Before the season, we ranked the PWHL's goaltending trios, and some of those predictions hit, while others of course missed. Our preseason top pair was Boston's Aerin Frankel and Emma Soderberg, but that duo has struggled, and they continued to struggle at Worlds this year. Neither looked sharp, even though Frankel picked up a handful of shutouts against weaker teams.
We also ranked Toronto's Kristen Campbell and Erica Howe at the bottom of the league, and that prediction looked spot on for the first five games of the season, followed by completely wrong beyond that. Campbell has turned her year around, but we'll see if she can pick up where she left off following a month without a game. Given she was a flow goalie who struggled to find that flow, this break could be a setback.
Here's a re-ranking of the PWHL's goaltending duos this season.
1. Minnesota - Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney
The duo have given Minnesota a chance to win night in and night out. Hensley is the starter, but Rooney has played as much or more than any other backup in the league, and when she's in, there hasn't been a marked drop off in goaltending. USA might have made a mistake not giving Hensley a shot against Canada, but Minnesota will certainly put their top goalie between the pipes come playoffs.
2. Montreal - Ann-Renee Desbiens and Elaine Chuli
Ann-Renee Desbiens has been good but not great, but Elaine Chuli has been a season changer for Montreal stealing games few thought she would. However you spin this duo, and whoever you put into the crease, teams know they won't get east goals, and Montreal knows regardless of how they play, they'll have a chance.
3. Toronto - Kristen Campbell and Erica Howe
Campbell's play turned when the team in front of her turned. For the first weeks of the season, Toronto was allowing teams into the house with control far too often. As their team defense tightened and Campbell began facing less high danger shots, she found a rhythm, and eventually started making saves she wasn't earlier in the year. Erica Howe has seen limited action, but when she's stepped in, she's surprised some with solid play. This isn't the flashiest duo, but they've done everything Toronto has needed, including during a record 11 game winning streak.
4. New York - Corinne Schroeder and Abbey Levy
Things could have been really bad for New York this season, worse than they already are, without Corinne Schroeder in net. Her numbers don't say it, but she's been perhaps the best goalie in the PWHL this season alongside Campbell and Hensley. She has kept New York in more games than they deserve, but is consistently hung out to dry. New York hasn't played Abbey Levy that often, and she's been 'ok' when called upon. They're the only team with no goalies signed into next season.
5. Boston - Aerin Frankel and Emma Soderberg
Soderberg's season has sadly been forgettable. Frankel has had moments of brilliance, but it's also looked like teams have "figured her out" at times. Much of that has come with beating her high. She fights harder than most and is a positive impact on Boston's roster. It would not be surprising to see Boston look into the goalie market, particularly with Northeastern's Gwyneth Philips available, who has a long history alongside Frankel. Many of Boston's issues this season have been in front of their goalie, but some of the issues could have been mitigated with timely netminding.
6. Ottawa - Emerance Maschmeyer and Sandra Abstreiter
No team has played their second goalie less than Ottawa with Sandra Abstreiter playing only a single game start to finish this year. With Ottawa in desperate need of points over the final weeks of the season, Abstreiter's top goalie honors at Worlds might not be enough to earn her a start in the PWHL. Maschmeyer however, has not been spectacular. She's been good, but she certainly hasn't stole any games for Ottawa, and there are times when she's sitting in her crease fishing for pucks. Maschmeyer remains one of the better goalies in this league, and has been helped recently by improved play in front of her, but the duo hasn't been what