What I’m seeing from the PWHL playoffs: A physical start, a goalie battle and a hat trick

We’ll know in a week if Montreal ultimately made a mistake taking on the Frost.

What we can say now, though, is Minnesota’s performance on Saturday was an immediate reminder of how quickly things can change in the playoffs. The game in its totality — fast-paced, back-and-forth and in front of a deafening crowd of more than 9,000 fans — was another example of how incredible playoff hockey in the PWHL can be.

Playoff history in Montreal

From the goals to the celebrations, there was nobody in the entire league more electric than Stacey on Saturday.

After falling behind two goals in the first period, Stacey dragged the Victoire into the battle. At first, it was with the kind of relentless work ethic fans have come to expect from Stacey. Then came the first hat trick in the PWHL playoffs.

“She brings it every game. We all know it. You’re never worried about the effort Stace will bring to the ice,” said teammate Abby Roque, who assisted on two of Stacey’s goals in her first career playoff game. “She (plays) every game (at) 110 percent, and I think in playoff hockey those players get to shine and you saw that today.”

In the second period, Stacey jammed in a wraparound on Maddie Rooney to tie the game 2-2. She scored twice more in the third period — on an incredible shot, then with some clean up in front of the net — to force overtime.

“Stace was able to put us on her back at times and figure out a way to put the puck across the line, and you appreciate a player like that, you appreciate someone who works so hard and plays the right way,” said Cheverie. “She’s a great leader for us, and it would have been nice to get the win with that kind of performance.”

A three-goal performance is a great sign for Stacey — and the Victoire — who had struggled in previous playoff series to find the back of the net consistently. In 2024 and 2025, Stacey only had one goal on 45 shots over seven playoff games. For a player like Stacey — who is sixth all-time in career goals (28) and points (62) — the dam was bound to break eventually.

“That’s a good start for her,” Cheverie said. “The series is young, so hopefully that continues.”

The goalie battle

While Game 1 between Montreal and Minnesota was a nine-goal track meet, the series between Ottawa and the Boston Charge has, predictably, been more of a goalie battle.

Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa) and Aerin Frankel (Boston) have won one game each and have allowed fewer goals in two games (seven) than just one between Montreal and Minnesota. Game 1 in Montreal was the second-highest scoring PWHL playoff game, with nine goals between the two teams.

Frankel wasn’t tested all that much in Game 1 on Thursday, needing to make just 17 saves on 18 shots as Alina Müller and Jessie Eldridge earned most of the spotlight. In Game 2, however, Philips stole the show, making 30 saves in Ottawa’s 3-1 victory to even the series that heads to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on May 8.

“Gwyn had a great game and helped us work our way through our moments,” Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod said Saturday night.

Boston came out flying in the first period, putting 14 shots on Philips, who made a number of massive saves to help Ottawa weather the early storm. After Ronja Savolainen opened the scoring, and Russian rookie Fanuza Kadirova doubled the lead, Philips shut the door, making timely saves to lead her team from start to finish.

“That’s my job,” Philips said. “Make the saves.”

Philips is no stranger to a big-time performance in the postseason. She had an outstanding .952 save percentage last year and was named playoff MVP, despite Minnesota winning the final series in four games. With 56 saves on 59 shots (a .949 save percentage) through two games, Philips is picking up right where she left off.

After the game on Saturday, Boston Fleet head coach Kris Sparre said, “If you play the game that we played tonight 10 times, you should win it eight or nine times.”

Saturday night, of course, was the exception to the rule. Thanks to Philips.

Welcome to the playoffs, Jessie Eldridge

It took 84 regular-season games in the PWHL for Eldridge to finally suit up in the postseason.

Eldridge, who was traded to Boston from Seattle this season, spent her first two PWHL seasons playing for the New York Sirens, which finished last in the league standings both years. Still, Eldridge had established herself as one of the most productive forwards in the league’s short history, sitting in the top 10 in all-time goals (30) and points (61).

Since joining the Fleet in March, Eldridge has been highly productive once again, scoring seven goals and 10 points in the final seven games of the regular season. That — along with her seamless chemistry with Müller — has carried over to the postseason already. On Thursday, in her playoff debut, Eldridge had the primary assist on both Boston goals and did well to create space for her linemates.

“(It was) worth the three-year wait, that’s for sure,” Eldridge said on the PWHL’s “Jocks in Jills” podcast after the game. “That was a lot of fun.”

Eldridge and Müller have combined for five points and 20 shots on goal already in the series. It’s worth singling Müller out here, too. Her three points in two games are tied for the early lead in playoff scoring. She also leads all forwards in faceoff wins (35) and has an impressive 68.6 percent faceoff win rate.

A physical start

Physicality ramped up quickly this week with 29 penalties called already — including two majors and at least one suspension — through just three games. While there have been some stick infractions and delay-of-game calls, a lot of penalties have been physical infractions with six roughing calls, two illegal body checks and two illegal checks to the head, and a post-whistle dust-up that landed Roque with a black eye not long into her long-awaited playoff debut.

Rylind MacKinnon (Boston) and Britta Curl-Salemme (Minnesota) were each given a major penalty and a game misconduct for making head contact. MacKinnon served a one-game suspension for her hit on Ottawa’s Gabbie Hughes. There has been no announcement from the league’s player safety committee yet on Curl-Salemme. But as a repeat offender — with three suspensions in her rookie year and a fine for crosschecking this year — she will likely face supplemental discipline.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Boston Fleet, NHL, Women's Hockey

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