Series schedule:

Game 1: Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m. Eastern, at Toronto (Coca-Cola Coliseum) 

Game 2: Friday, May 9, 7 p.m. Eastern, at Toronto (Coca-Cola Coliseum)

Game 3: Sunday, May 11, 5 p.m. Central, at Minnesota (Xcel Energy Center)

Game 4*: Wednesday, May 14, 6 p.m. Central, at Minnesota (Xcel Energy Center)

Game 5*: Saturday, May 17, time TBD, at Toronto (Coca-Cola Coliseum)

*If needed

Watch in Minneapolis/St. Paul Area: FanDuel Sports Network

Watch in Canada: Prime Video

Watch Outside of Canada: PWHL YouTube Channel and thepwhl.com

Broadcast teams: The series between Toronto and Minnesota on Prime Video will feature Daniella Ponticelli with the play-by-play call, analyst Becky Kellar and reporter Rob Pizzo. 

The story so far

First of all, who decided on the words “clinch,” “berth,” and “seed” to ALL be used when discussing standings and postseason activity? Who did that? Shame on you. 

Moving on…

Minnesota took the season series 4-2, but a lot of these games needed extra time. The Frost scored twenty goals against the Sceptres, and that’s not nothing. 

This matchup is a repeat of last year’s semifinals in which the Frost won to advance to the finals and went on to become the inaugural Walter Cup winners. The defending champs secured their spot in the 2025 PWHL playoffs after a dominating 8-1 win, eliminating the Boston Fleet (who the Frost also defeated in the finals for the aforementioned Walter Cup Championship). This elimination win came right after a 3-0 shutout win against the Ottawa Charge at the end of April.

That is some incredible momentum for Minnesota, who were see-sawing in and out of a playoff spot towards the end of the regular season. Notably, goaltender Nicole Hensley helped cement those two “must-wins” with a total of 53 saves on 54 shots. 

On offense, the Frost are led by forward Kendall Coyne Schofield, their captain and top scorer with 25 points (12G, 12A) on the season. She has scored in 11 different games this season, behind only Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin’s 13 games with a goal. And, dare I say darkhorse defender Lee Stecklein coming in hot in the Frost’s last two games with three goals on three shots? The Minnesota native is the third U.S.-born defender to have a multi-goal game this season (joining two Boston Fleet defenders who, again, did not make the playoffs this year). 

Five Frost skaters have eight or more goals this season, most in the PWHL. Sophie Jaques finished the season tied with Toronto’s Renata Fast for the scoring lead among defenders with 22 points (7G, 15A) in 25 games. Frost Forward Taylor Heise is second in points with 22 (8G, 14A). Plus she won the 2022 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and earned three medals in the IIHF Women’s World Championship with Team USA (gold in 2023 and silver in 2022 and 2024). 

We talked about Hensley, but the Frost are a team that, in essence, deploys a goalie tandem—both Hensley and Minnesota native Maddie Rooney are “qualified,” meaning they have played over 600 minutes for the Frost this season. Here’s how they performed:

  • Hensley: 2.53 GAA, 0.900 SAV%, 1 shutout
  • Rooney: 2.07, 0.907 SAV%, 2 shutouts

Toronto carries three goalies on their roster, but only Kristen Campbell is qualified. Rookie goaltender Raygan Kirk is just under, though with 530 minutes of ice time. Campbell’s save percentage sits at 0.910 and her GAA is 2.25, the lowest of all qualified goalies heading to the postseason except Hensley. 

The Frost have scored the most goals in the league this season, so Campbell and/or Kirk have that to look forward to.

I’m not discounting Toronto’s offense. How could I when forward Daryl Watts is third in league points with 27 (12G, 15A)? In fact, Watts is the only player in the top three whose team made the playoffs (Boston’s Hilary Knight and New York’s Sarah Fillier tied for number one). 

“I think that we have another level to give this playoffs. We found ways to win a few games throughout the season that set us up for the position that we are in right now. I think we’ve got enough people who played in the league last year as well who know how to be successful in the playoffs––you’ve got to take it up a notch,” says Toronto head coach Troy Ryan. 

I believe this—I don’t think we’ve yet seen the best of Toronto.

Predictions

Sam: Sceptres in five. 

I think Toronto is going to take this series, but I think it will take all five games. Probably extra time in a few. The Frost are of course a stacked team, but there is so much to be said for revenge, you know? It’s the hater in me that knows what can happen when you really dig into that. Toronto will come hungry, motivated by their short stint in the playoffs last season. Cut short by the Frost in five games, mind you! You’ll see. You'll all see!

That being said, I would love to be wrong about this.

Liz: You will be. Frost in five. 

Nicole: Frost in four, actually.

(Image: PWHL)