Stellar Six: PWHL’s Unsung Heroines - February Edition

The PWHL releases its monthly SupraStars, honoring three forwards, two defenders, and one goaltender at the conclusion of each month, “determined as the players who most excelled on ice throughout the PWHL.”

The Stellar Six is our “second team” of performers who have made an impression and a difference for their teams in February.

Watts has been everything the Sceptres could’ve hoped for when they signed her as a free agent. With injuries to both Sarah Nurse and Natalie Spooner, she and Hannah Miller (named one of the SupraStars) have both stepped up offensively. In February, Watts had three goals and five assists for eight points, including two goals (one the overtime winner) in the Takeover Tour game against Ottawa in Edmonton. She’s had a knack for timely goals, and her skill has been on full display in the Sceptres’ recent run of wins.

The one and only ‘Captain Clutch’ has been just that for the Victoire, and in February, while the team spread out the scoring, Poulin was always part of the winning combination, doing all of the little things a leader does. She had both goals in a 2-1 win over New York, as well a goal and an assist in the team’s 3-1 win over Toronto. Whether it’s faceoffs, hits, shootout goals, or setting the example for hard work, Poulin continues to do it all.

New York certainly didn’t get the results they might have wanted this month, but Sarah Fillier continues her impressive season, and hasn’t let up. She had two goals and five assists in February, solid numbers when the team itself isn’t finding the back of the net. Fillier also didn’t have fewer than four shots on goal in any game during the month, so she’s firing and doing her part for the sixth-place team as they try to move up in the standings.

With the Victoire dominating in so many areas of the game, Barnes might not be putting up huge numbers (three assists in five games), but she plays a solid, smooth, smart game that has elevated the Montreal blue line this season. She takes pressure off Erin Ambrose, with an average of 22 minutes of ice time in February. Barnes plays in all situations, and has earned coach Kori Cheverie’s trust, impressive for a rookie defender.

Why not give a shoutout to another rookie defender who hasn’t played like one? Savolainen has looked comfortable from day one in Ottawa, dishing out hits, carrying the puck up the ice, standing at the front of the net on the power play, and contributing points as well (one goal and three assists in February). She’s been exactly what the Charge has needed, pairing with Aneta Tejralova on the top D pair and playing huge minutes for Ottawa.

In February, Desbiens only played four games, with a record of 3-1 (two wins against New York, one vs. Toronto and a loss to Ottawa where she let in two goals). Aerin Frankel got the accolades for the month with four wins, but Desbiens is tearing up the league with eight home wins in a row. She has the longest streak of games with two goals or fewer in North America, at 13. The Victoire are sitting comfortably at the top of the standings, and Desbiens is one of the biggest reasons why. Her GAA of 1.70 on the season is tops among regular goaltenders, as is her save percentage of .938.