For a minute or so on Sunday, more than 13,000 fans at Saint Paul’s Xcel Energy Center and every member of PWHL Minnesota celebrated what they thought was a historic win in Game 4 of the PWHL Final, one that would have clinched the first-ever Walter Cup championship.
But the story didn’t end that way: Sophie Jaques’ double-overtime goal was called back due to goaltender interference and, after Minnesota players picked up the gloves and sticks they’d tossed to the ice in celebration, Boston’s Alina Muller scored to force a fifth and final game.
It was absolutely wild.
And so here we are, with one game left to decide it all on Wednesday night.
Here are five storylines to watch in the finale of the PWHL’s inaugural season:
Will it be Knight’s night?
Boston captain and prolific goal-scorer Hilary Knight has been held without a point in seven games this post-season, but only one other player (Minnesota’s Taylor Heise, who we’ll get to later) has fired more than Knight’s 26 shots on net.
In her team’s marathon Game 4 victory, Knight played nearly 40 minutes, second among Boston forwards.
She had 11 points in 24 regular-season games, not exactly cooking on the scoresheet the way we’re accustomed to seeing — at least, in the PWHL. At the 2024 world championships, Knight led Team USA with 10 points in 7 games, adding to her all-time leading scorer numbers on that stage: 65 goals and 111 points in 80 games.
In short, the forward usually comes to play in big games, so you have to wonder whether Knight will shine in the biggest game of them all.
Zumwinkle’s due, too
One of the best players on the ice in Game 4 was Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle, the offensive powerhouse who led her team in the regular season with 19 points in 24 games and is in the running for the league’s rookie of the year award.
Zumwinkle, the 24-year-old who hails from the State of Hockey, has been held to a single goal in these playoffs, an empty-netter she potted in Game 3 while being hauled down by Knight, a play on which Zumwinkle slid into the net after the puck did.
She had two good chances in Game 4, and led her team with five shots, but wasn’t rewarded on the scoresheet.
Her line, with Kelly Pannek in the middle and Denisa Krizova on the left wing, created most of Minnesota’s chances in Game 4. Can Zumwinkle cash one of them this time out?
Goalie showdown
Game 4 saw these teams play nearly 100 minutes of scoreless hockey before it was decided with 1:24 to go in the second overtime period. It was a reminder of the spectacular goaltending that has defined much of the PWHL post-season.
Aerin Frankel has played all seven games for Boston and has a perfect record in four overtimes. She has recorded a shutout and boasts a 1.38 GAA and a 0.953 save percentage.
In Minnesota, the team has been rolling with a one-two punch in the crease. Lately it’s been Nicole Hensley, who served up a shutout in Game 2 and has been solid in her last three starts. Maddie Rooney played the five previous games, and recorded a pair of shutouts of her own.
Minnesota has a choice to make, then, as far as who they’ll start in Game 5. And though they may elect to keep rolling with Hensley, who robbed more than a few Boston players in Game 4 before Müller eventually beat her in double OT, both goalies have played well enough to deserve the call.
“It’s been the whole year,” Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield said, of the stellar goaltending across the league. “You’re not seeing very high-scoring games, so you’ve kind of got to expect that, you’ve got to be okay winning 1-0.”
Playoff MVPs
The Walter Cup will be awarded Wednesday, and so too will the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award.
There’s still a game to go, but there are front-runners for the honour on both teams.
For Boston, it’s Frankel. The goaltender has stood on her head, is perfect in overtime, and has been her team’s best player most nights.
In Minnesota, it’s Taylor Heise, who leads all players in post-season scoring with seven points. She got called for that goaltender interference in Game 4, but it was Heise who drove the net and created the play that led to Jaques’ goal.
Fitting finish
No matter how it ends on Sunday, the winning team will include some of hockey’s best ambassadors in this era.
The captains of both teams — Coyne Schofield and Knight — were key figures in getting the ball rolling on this league, and both were on the board of directors of the PWHPA, the precursor organization founded in 2019 that helped lead to the creation of the PWHL.
It was Coyne Schofield who made the phone call to the legendary Billie Jean King six years ago to ask for help in getting this league going. As King relayed, she and Kloss were at a Lakers game when the call came. (Coyne Schofield got King’s number from former Team USA star Angela Ruggiero.)
“We knew nothing about hockey, by the way,” a smiling King told a roundtable of media ahead of Game 4. But she added that she and Kloss told Schofield: “We will try to help you.”
They did, and both women are now members of the league’s advisory board.
King thought about what it would be like to see Coyne Schofield among the first players ever to win the Walter Cup.
“It couldn’t be more perfect,” she said.
“It’s all her fault anyway,” King added with a laugh. “She asked the question.”
As the Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Final heads into Game 5, there are several key storylines that fans and analysts will be keeping a close eye on. With the series tied at two games apiece, both teams will be looking to gain the upper hand and take control of the championship.
One of the biggest storylines to watch is the performance of the goaltenders. In a series as tightly contested as this one, the play between the pipes can often be the difference-maker. Both teams have relied heavily on their netminders throughout the playoffs, and Game 5 will likely be no different. Keep an eye on how each goalie responds to the pressure of a must-win game.
Another storyline to watch is the battle of special teams. Both teams have been effective on the power play and penalty kill throughout the series, and whichever team can capitalize on their opportunities with the man advantage could swing the momentum in their favor. Look for key players to step up on special teams and make an impact on the outcome of Game 5.
The coaching strategies employed by both teams will also be crucial in Game 5. With the series on the line, coaches will need to make smart decisions when it comes to line combinations, defensive pairings, and in-game adjustments. Keep an eye on how each coach manages their bench and makes strategic decisions throughout the game.
Lastly, the battle of wills between the two teams will be a key storyline to watch in Game 5. Both teams have shown resilience and determination throughout the playoffs, and whichever team can dig deep and find that extra level of intensity could come out on top in the final game of the series. Look for players to step up and make big plays when it matters most.
As Game 5 of the PWHL Final approaches, these key storylines will be at the forefront of fans’ minds. With so much on the line, both teams will be looking to leave it all on the ice and come out victorious in what promises to be an exciting and intense conclusion to the championship series.