The PWHL’s two newest teams, the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent are likely to be eliminated from the PWHL playoff race in the coming days, perhaps while facing each other.
The Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes entered the season full of promise and expectations. Both team delivered in terms of bringing excitement and building vibrant fan bases on the west coast.
Both teams are likely to be the first eliminated from PWHL playoff contention and to begin the hunt for draft order points to win the first overall pick.
Guaranteed Elimination On Tuesday
Tuesday night the Seattle Torrent travel to face the Vancouver Goldeneyes. One or both teams will leave the game eliminated from playoff contention.
Seattle needs a regulation win to keep their playoff hopes alive and the Goldeneyes need to win in either regulation, overtime or a shootout to keep their hopes alive.
If Seattle were to win in overtime or a shootout, both teams will be eliminated.
New York Sirens Also Facing Elimination
The New York Sirens have marginally better playoff hopes than Seattle and Vancouver, but are facing potential elimination this week as well. The Sirens need at least two points in their next games against Toronto and Ottawa this week to stay in the hunt. Both Toronto and Ottawa are desperate for points themselves as they fight for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Gold Plan Will Kick In
In the PWHL, all games are meaningful. Once a team is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the remainder of their games count toward draft order points. Any point they earn following elimination counts toward this new race, with the team earning the most points after their elimination winning the right to pick first overall in the PWHL Draft. The system, known as the Gold Plan, has resulted in the New York Sirens picking first overall the past two seasons.