PWHL Players of the Week: Jenner, Ambrose, Maschmeyer return with a bang

A trio of world champions stepped up as the Professional Women’s Hockey League returned this week.

These Canadians put up big performances for their teams in front of big crowds, with a couple of teammates inching their squad closer to a playoff spot.

Brianne Jenner (F, Ottawa)

Ottawa came into the weekend out of a playoff spot, but managed to get a big game from their leader.

On Saturday against Minnesota, Brianne Jenner scored three of her team’s four goals to hell Ottawa to a 4-0 win.

The performance is part of a dominant stretch of play by the 32-year-old. Dating back to before the WC break, Jenner has scored 12 points in the last six games, finding the back of the net six times over that span. Her confidence is at an all-time high, and it is spreading throughout the lineup.

After her performance on Saturday, Jenner is fourth in the PWHL in points with 18, three behind Toronto’s Natalie Spooner and Montreal’s Marie-Philip Poulin for the league lead.

Erin Ambrose (D, Montreal)

Speaking of Montreal, in front of an indoor attendance record for a women’s hockey game, one of the best blueliners in the game capped off a productive week.

Though Montreal lost to Toronto in overtime, defender Erin Ambrose contributed with her fourth goal of the season, sending the packed Bell Centre into a frenzy.

That was the pinnacle of a strong weekend for the longtime Canadian national team member. In the team’s first game back from the break, Ambrose assisted on all four of Montreal’s goals in a come-from-behind win over Minnesota, helping a team that has struggled mightily on the power play to cash in on the player advantage three times.

Ambrose, an easy candidate to be named top defender, is tied for the league lead in goals among blueliners with four, and has the most points among defenders with 15.

Emerance Maschmeyer (G, Ottawa)

This one was tough, because I could have selected Kristen Campbell after making 37 saves in Montreal on Saturday. However, it was hard not to pick Maschmeyer after what she did against Minnesota.

The gold medalist goalie stood on her head on Saturday night. Minnesota kept peppering the Bruderheim, Alberta native, especially in the third period, when they threw 13 shots on goal. However, Maschmeyer stopped them all, refusing to be beaten all game long, picking up her second shutout of the season with a 35-save performance.

Her effort helped Ottawa regain the fourth and final playoff spot in the PVF.

The 29-year-old has won three straight starts, and has been victorious in four of her last five. Maschmeyer has played the second-most minutes among any goaltender this season, second only to Campbell. Maschmeyer is also second to the Toronto netminder in wins (eight) and saves (445).