The Montreal Victoire are the only PWHL team to clinch a playoff spot. The league’s five other teams each have three games remaining, with their post season on the line. The race tightened yet again on Wednesday as the Ottawa Charge shutout the Boston Fleet 4-0 heading into the international break. The win put Ottawa in sole possession of fourth place and the final playoff spot. It also brought the Boston Fleet (40 points), Charge (39 points), and Minnesota Frost (38 points) into a playoff race logjam.
Darkangelo Nets A Hat Trick, Philips Posts A Shutout
Shiann Darkangelo scored her first career PWHL hat trick, while Gwyneth Philips stopped 17 shots to guide the Ottawa Charge to a crucial regulation win over the Boston Fleet. Heading into the third period up 3-0 only a week after blowing an identical 3-0 third period lead, a different Ottawa showed up this time around. The win was big for Ottawa, and for Darkangelo who has thrived with the Charge since arriving at the trade deadline last season. It was even better to do it against her former team.
“It’s kind of exciting to happen when I’ve been traded from here and to do it in the same building I used to play in, but it was a great three points and a great team win,” said Darkangelo. “It’s huge going into the international break. It’s exactly what we needed.”
“There were some ebbs and flows for sure tonight, but I think that Aneta Tejralová had three blocked shots in the slot, so the team did a lot to make my life as easy as possible,” said Gwyneth Philips about the win. “And then, Shiann got a hat trick, so that made my life a lot easier too!”
Two Games That Will Decide The PWHL Playoff Race
There are only nine games remaining in the PWHL season, including all six teams being in action on April 26 when the league returns from the World Championship break. There are, however, two games in particular, that will almost certainly decide the PWHL playoff race.
On April 30, the Ottawa Charge and Minnesota Frost face off. Depending on who wins and who loses on the 26th, this game could have clinching potential for both teams.
If it’s not that game, then the playoff race could boil down to the last day and last game of the season. At 1pm on May 3, the puck will drop on the final opening face-off of the 2024-25 PWHL regular season. That game will see the Boston Fleet host the Minnesota Frost. Last season the PWHL playoff race came down to the final minutes of the season, and there’s no reason to believe 2024-25 won’t be a repeat.
