What to know about the PWHL playoffs: Matchups, top players, schedule

TL;DR

The PWHL playoffs start on April 30, featuring the Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge. The top-seeded Montréal Victoire will face the Minnesota Frost in the semifinals.

Key points

PWHL playoffs start on April 30
Boston Fleet play Ottawa Charge in first round
Montréal Victoire chose to face Minnesota Frost
Semifinals are best of five series
Minnesota Frost were last season's champions

Boston FleetOttawa ChargeMontréal VictoireMinnesota Frost

The Professional Women's Hockey League kicks off its postseason on Thursday, April 30, with the No. 2 seed Boston Fleet traveling to the No. 4 Ottawa Charge.

Why is the No. 2 seed playing the No. 4 seed? Because in the PWHL, the top seed earns the right to pick its opponent for the first round of the playoffs. The No. 1-seeded Montréal Victoire chose to play the two-time defending league champion Minnesota Frost, the No. 3 seed.

The Victoire are in the playoffs for the third straight season, finishing first for a second consecutive year. This season, the Victoire won all four games in their head-to-head season series against the Frost (13-5-9), including two overtime victories. They went 3-1 against the Charge (9-1-12).

The two semifinal series are best of five with the two winners advancing to the best-of-five finals to play for the Walter Cup. The Minnesota Frost beat the Ottawa Charge in four games for the Cup last season.

Here is the lowdown on each playoff team and the schedule:

Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) of Canada gives up a goal to Caroline Harvey (not pictured) of the United States in women's ice hockey group a play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.