Five takeaways from week two of the PWHL season: Battle of Ontario ignites, video review, Minnesota stays hot

After an exciting week of the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League season, the second week was filled with excitement and some controversy.

Let’s take a look:

A questionable review

It felt like the new league was missing something in the first few games of the season. Unfortunately, we got it last Saturday.

Montreal kicked off its home run with a battle against Boston. Despite quick strikes by both teams in the second period, fans were treated to a great goaltending duel between fellow national team rivals Aerin Frankel and Ann-Renée Desbiens, with the game going to overtime.

Minutes into the extra frame, a scramble in front of the Boston goal led to, of all people, Marie-Philip Poulin knocking in the game-winner.

Or, so we thought…

Officials went to review the play for goaltender interference. They ended up waving the goal off, determining that Frankel was interfered with by Montreal’s Laura Stacey. Upon closer look, it looked like Boston captain Hilary Knight drew Stacey into the crease. Just moments later, Amanda Pelkey scored to give Boston their first-ever win.

It only seemed like a matter of time before that video review would rear its ugly head into the PWHL.

The big question is, will there be consistency? Unlike the NHL, video review judges are in the building for every game. Therefore, different crews for just about every game.

The last thing we want to see is a championship game determined by video review, right?

The Battle of Ontario has sparks

On Saturday, a sold-out crowd at the Mattamy Athletic Centre saw provincial rivals play hard in a familiar sense.

Though it was the first time Toronto and Ottawa faced off in PWHL play, they had their moments similar to what fans have grown accustomed to when the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators meet up.

The game’s physicality was a little more apparent than the first handful of games this season, even more so after the whistles.

In the second period, after Toronto goaltender Erica Howe froze play, Ottawa’s Lexie Adzija gave an extra poke to the netminder. That drew the attention of Toronto’s Maggie Connors and Renata Fast, with the three throwing punches for a moment.

Adzija ended up being the only one sent to the box for slashing.

There was some pushing and shoving after a few whistles as the game continued. Just like in the NHL, the Battle of Ontario was heated, and fans loved it. Toronto and Ottawa will meet four more times this season, with next matchup coming in the nation’s capital on Jan. 23.

Rest, not rust for Ottawa

Heading into the weekend, Ottawa had played just one game this season, coming in their home opener on Jan. 2.

Eleven days later, they met Toronto. While one might think Ottawa was not going to be up to game speed, that was far from the case.

Led by Gabbie Hughes and an adequate power play, Ottawa came flying out of the gate, at one point outshooting Toronto 9-1 in the opening period. Kateřina Mrázová and Hughes both potted goals on an early 5-on-3, and Ottawa never looked back.

Hughes ended up with two goals, with former Toronto Six star Mikyla Grant-Mentis assisting on both. Even goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer got in on the fun, assisting on Natalie Snodgrass’ tally in the second.

Daryl Watts was the other goal scorer in the 5-1 win. Ottawa ended up outshooting Toronto, 26-24.

For a team that some of us overlooked heading into the season, Ottawa has the jump and the grit to hang with the best in the league. They’ll look to keep the fun going against Minnesota this coming Wednesday.

Captain Canada comes alive

Speaking of Poulin, there was concern over Montreal’s slow start. Poulin had just one assist over the first two games, and was being targeted heavily by Ottawa and Minnesota’s top defenders.

However, the Canadian national team legend showed up last Wednesday against New York. In front of a boisterous crowd at UBS Arena, Poulin registered a hat trick to power Montreal to 5-2 win.

It was only a matter of time before Poulin broke out, as the 32-year-old has shown she can fight through any adversity throughout her career. Poulin has been one of the best centers in the early stages this season, winning nearly 60% of the draws.

She has quickly catapulted herself into third in league scoring with four points, and was one of DFO’s Players of the Week.

Minnesota stays unbeaten in regulation

Though their perfect record was ruined thanks to an overtime loss to New York on Sunday, Minnesota continues to prove they are a team to be reckoned with.

Against a very talented Toronto team last Wednesday, Taylor Heise showed why she was the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher scored a couple of highlight reel goals, assisting on captain Kendall Coyne Schofield’s first goal in the PWHL in a 3-1 win.

Minnesota was looking good in front of a crowd over 7,000 at Xcel Energy Center on Sunday, but a 2-0 lead was not enough to keep New York from coming back.

Nevertheless, Minnesota has played with a confidence not seen from the other five teams so far. They can have either Nicole Hensley or Maddie Rooney in goal, and know they can win. The hard part for Minnesota will be to bring that intensity into the final 20 games of the season.

At 3-0-1, they still sit atop the league standings, three points ahead of Montreal.

They will have to show some toughness on the road when they head to Ottawa on Wednesday, as they have played their last three games in St. Paul.