At long last the puck has dropped on season two of the PWHL! Despite season two starting a full month earlier than season one, it was starting to feel like we’d never get to puck drop. There was so much build up with all the offseason announcements, keeping the league in the news and at the forefront over the past few months, that the anticipation of finally playing again made it feel like season two would never come. The opening weekend did not disappoint–two of the three games went to extra time and of course, there has already been a shootout.
The new rules had an immediate impact, the new players showed out and for the most part, the new jerseys looked great. Read on for some first impressions, some hot takes and a bit about each game.
Overall Notables
New Scorebug
The broadcast debuted a new scorebug for games, centered at the top of the screen. It’s got fun, slanted edges and details to match the design of the PWHL logo in the center. When there’s a power play, it extends out and the clock counts down on the other side of the team logo. It looks great, and includes a shot count.
New Threads in Action
- Toronto’s blue jerseys looked a little darker than expected, but the gold numbers were crisp and easy to read. That color combo is a fave.
- Montreal’s maroon jerseys were lackluster on screen, though this could have been because they played another team in the red family. Ottawa’s away jerseys are white, of course, but the red numbers stood out as well as you’d imagine, and maybe made Montreal look a little sad. Their navy pants look black in wider shots, which also might contribute to the overall meh. Also, Liz was right: the logo is too big on the jersey. When the players were on the bench the giant patch looked odd and uncomfortable.
- Minnesota’s logo and colors are a Victory Press fave, awkward negative space aside, but the purple looked so dark on the broadcast. We’re looking forward to catching their away uniforms in action - that gorgeous purple on crisp white should be a showstopper.
Let’s Get Loud
The home crowds were HOT. Fans at the Coca-Cola Coliseum exploded when Sarah Nurse scored her shorty for Toronto.
Victoire fans hyped up their team all game long. “The fans didn’t disappoint. It was loud in there. I couldn’t talk on the bench sometimes, but we want them to keep that up,” said Montréal Victoire Head Coach Kori Cheverie.
The remaining home openers have tough acts to follow and we can’t wait. Mark your calendars:
- TOR at OTT, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 7:00 P.M. Eastern
- MIN at BOS, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7:00 P.M. Eastern
- TOR at NY, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 7:00 P.M. Eastern
Hoist the Colors
The NY vs. MIN broadcast began with the banner raising for the inaugural Walter Cup championship. Despite the banner needing a quick hit with a steamer, we got chills when it sailed into the rafters of the Xcel Energy Center. The drama of the music and the light up bracelets in the crowd really added to the overall atmosphere; it was literally awesome. This is just the first of many of the PWHL, and next year we’ll get to see a banner with one of the team’s new logos on it! How exciting.
The New Kids
There had been an assumption about the level of play increasing with the influx of NCAA and international talent in year two, but I’m not sure anyone could have predicted how immediate the rookie impact would be. Over the first three games, 12 rookies tallied a point, scoring four goals and contributing eight assists. Proving they could handle the transition, eight of the top 12 picks in the 2024 draft earned a point (Hat tip to The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian for this stat).
Game Nuggets
BOSTON - 1, TORONTO - 3
U Sports Player Impact
Rylind MacKinnon picked up the secondary assist on Sarah Nurse’s first-period shorthanded jailbreak goal. MacKinnon went to the University of British Columbia and while she’s not the first PWHL player from a USports school to earn a point, it’s exciting that she made an immediate impact on the scoresheet. (USports is the national sport governing body for universities in Canada, comparable to NCAA in the United States).
“No Escape Rule” Coming in Hot
Boston’s first goal came 25 seconds into the first power play of the season, courtesy of captain Hilary Knight, before Toronto could make a line change to get their proper penalty kill unit on the ice. Similarly, Toronto’s Hannah Miller scored the game-winning goal 26 seconds into a power play before Boston could make their line change.
In fact, throughout the weekend, the power play percentage was double the league average from last season. Love it or hate it, the No Escape Rule seems to be doing its job.
OTTAWA - 3, MONTREAL - 4 (SO)
Goaltending
Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer faced a personal high in the PWHL with 45 shots against. She took it upon herself to earn a personal best with 42 saves, plus an additional four in the shootout. She was very good in her Rivalry Series start, as well, only allowing one goal against. We’re excited to watch her play more of the best hockey of her career.
“She’s not going to miss three times”
After Montreal’s shootout win, coach Kori Cheverie reportedly said that she chose to have Marie-Philip Poulin attempt a second penalty shot because “She’s not going to miss a third time.” As regulation ended, Poulin had a breakaway alone in on Maschmeyer that was effectively a shootout attempt and was stopped. Then she missed her first shootout attempt. I mean, it’s MPP, so it’s not like going back to her is taking a massive chance, but it’s still just so poetic and storybook for her to win the game in that way.
NEW YORK - 4, MINNESOTA - 3 (OT)
Uh, Defense? Also, Offense?
We know the score shows a Sirens win against the defending champs, but New York seemed defensively disconnected at best – and absent at worst. It also didn’t look like the Sirens spent any significant amount of time in the offensive zone in the opening frame. Just long minutes playing back on their heels against Minnesota’s onslaught of 15 shots on goal (to New York’s anemic three shots on goal).
The fact that New York tied it in the second and ultimately pulled out the near-immediate OT win feels like a small miracle. Maybe it’s that season-opener winning streak – New York won their season opener last year against Toronto.
Sarah Fillier’s Saucer Pass
This may seem inconsequential – there were plenty of great passes and pretty plays in this weekend’s games – but Sarah Fillier sends the puck sailing over a diving Maggie Flaherty right onto the tape of Alex Carpenter’s stick. It’s a beautiful play, and the first of two assists for Fillier – 19 seconds into overtime, she got the puck to Carpenter again for the game-winning goal. One player can’t win every game, but this is a fantastic start for the first overall draft pick.
(Photo: PWHL)
