PWHL Minnesota was quick to swap Nicole Hensley for Maddie Rooney in round one of the PWHL playoffs; will they flip back after Rooney struggled in game one of the PWHL finals?
PWHL Minnesota was quick to swap Nicole Hensley for Maddie Rooney in round one of the PWHL playoffs; will they flip back after Rooney struggled in game one of the PWHL finals?
It only took one questionable performance in the opening game of the 2024 PWHL playoffs for Minnesota's Ken Klee to replace Nicole Hensley with Maddie Rooney.
The change was the key to Minnesota's first round turnaround to beat Toronto.
After Maddie Rooney allowed four goals on 22 shots to open the PWHL Walter Cup finals, including a few she'd certainly want back, should Ken Klee make the change again?
The opening goal of the game Rooney pushed a juicy rebound onto Susanna Tapani's stick off a less-than-thunderous point shot and then overshot her push to get across the crease leaving the left post open. When Taylor Wenczkowski scored Boston's second goal, you could begin to see frustration mounting in Rooney, but it was Hannah Brandt's third, a wrister from well outside the danger zone that beat Rooney cleanly through the five hole that saw a visible reaction from the netminder. Later in the second frame, despite a redirect on the shot, the game winning goal looked like a harmless wrister from Jess Healey at the point that simply floated over Rooney's glove. Most, including the commentators of the game believed a goaltending change was already forthcoming for the third period, but Rooney settled down and stopped all seven shots she faced in the third period.
Still, a goaltending change worked once for Minnesota in the postseason, and Rooney's 0.818 save percentage was hardly inspiring in game one.
Additionally, Nicole Hensley did serve as Minnesota's starter throughout the season, and as the goaltender they dipped into the draft early to select last season while waiting to sign Rooney via free agency following the draft, it's clear who Minnesota entered the season believing would be their big game goalie.
Hensley also showed that ability in Rivalry Series games this season as USA's backup behind her current Boston opponent Aerin Frankel.
Minnesota would not have anticipated allowing four goals in the opening game of the PWHL finals, particularly against a Boston team that only scored more than three goals in a game twice this season leading into game one.
Will Ken Klee go back to Nicole Hensley? It's possible. If he doesn't to start game two, the smallest hiccup from Rooney early in game two will certainly see a rapid change in Minnesota's net.