PWHL Power Rankings: Montreal surpasses Minnesota for top spot

What a difference a week makes in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Teams that have struggled early on are finding their stride, while others who started off hot have shown weaknesses.

Tyler Kuehl and Hunter Crowther look at the status of each team heading into the All-Star Break.

1. Montreal

Record: 5-1-2, +2
Last Week: 2nd (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Tyler’s Rank: 1st

Tyler: Yes, technically they are still tied with Minnesota for first, but Montreal is finally hitting their stride. Ann-Renée Desbiens is showing why she is considered by some to be the best goaltender in the world. Paired up with the reliable Elaine Chuli, Montreal is close to winning me over for the best tandem in the league.

Also, with players like Laura Stacey and Maureen Murphy coming alive, Montreal has the needed depth to be a championship team, which is what some of us believed heading into the season.

Hunter: Still an impressive week, but in both games, Montreal was outshot 46-26 and 44-24, respectively. That’s just a testament to the outrageously good goaltending our Quebecois franchise has produced, with both Elaine Chuli and Ann-Renee Desbiens both having 40-plus save performances. 

Laura Stacey had a goal in each of their games, including nine total shots and a plus-two rating. We’re a month into the season, but Montreal is really finding their game. If they can slow down the volume of shots they face, look out. 

Montreal is on the road next weekend, visiting Boston for the first time this season.

2. Minnesota

Record: 5-1-2 +5
Last Week: 1st (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 2nd

Tyler: What you folks did not see is that Hunter and I had to settle this in a steel cage match.

I admit, they outplayed Montreal last week, but they lost to their backup goaltender (I love Chuli, but facts are facts). Like Montreal and Toronto, their power play is not the greatest, and the fact they only scored six times in three games last week is concerning. They need their finishers to come alive if they want to hang on to first place.

Hunter: I know my opponent- er, colleague Tyler had Montreal first, and it’s hard to argue after they went 2-0-0 this week, including a victory over my number-one choice. But to quote the legendary Lee Corso: “Not so fast, my friend!” 

Minnesota outshot Montreal 46-26, including a mind-boggling 23 shots in the second frame. Grace Zumwinkle added to her league-leading six goal lead against Boston, and a 2-1 win over New York, albeit in overtime, keeps Minnesota at the time for me.

Minnesota is back on the road this weekend, as they visit Toronto on Saturday. Thankfully, a number of their players will already be in town for the PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase on Thursday, so it should be a (mostly) easy travel schedule.

3. Boston

Record: 4-2-0, 0
Last Week: 4th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler’s Rank: 3rd

Hunter: Let’s give a big shoutout to Alina Muller, who may be tied with New York’s Alex Carpenter for the league-lead in points with nine, but having only played six games compared to Carpenter’s eight, her performance is all the more incredible. Back-to-back one goal, one assists games this week, including helpers on both of Boston’s game-winning goals, she continues to thrive. 

Aerin Frankel produced another fantastic performance, stopping 37 of 39 shots on Wednesday against Ottawa, earning Goalie of the Week honors in my list from over the weekend. I tell ya what, this league is spoiled with world-class goaltending. 

Tyler: Who cares if they blew a pair of two-goal leads last week. They do not ask how, they ask how many. Also, how can you ignore how great Alina Müller was. Two goals and two assists for my Rookie of the Year pick, she is showing her potential after a slow start.

Given the fact that Hilary Knight finally scored last week, I expect to start filling the back of the net.

Boston will renew their rivalry with Montreal, in Lowell, on Sunday.

4. Ottawa

Record: 2-1-3, +2
Last Week: 5th (+1)
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Tyler’s Rank: 5th

Hunter: Sports can be weird because the work put in doesn’t always equal the result you want. Ottawa lost both its games this week, but I thought it looked just as good or better in each of them. Captain Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark combined for 18 shots over the two days, dominating possession against both Boston and Ottawa.

Through six games this season, they’re looking far better than I gave them credit for in my preseason predictions. I’m excited to see if they continue to climb in February. 

Tyler: How can you lose in front of the Prime Minister? Say what you want about the guy, but he is all-in on this team.

Despite heroic, and gutsy efforts from Emerance Maschmeyer in goal, Ottawa could not come up with the big goals when needed. However, you can tell this team is playing with confidence, even though they are lacking in the wins column. One thing they are not lacking in is the power play, where they rank first in the league (30%).

Ottawa has just one loss in regulation, they are still fifth in the league standings. Ottawa gets another home game this coming Sunday, as New York comes to town.

5. New York

Record: 3-4-1, 0
Last Week: 3rd (-2)
Hunter’s Rank: 5th
Tyler’s Rank: 4th

Hunter: Tough results this week, they were outplayed thoroughly against Toronto in a 2-0 loss and lost a nailbiter against Minnesota in overtime. Ella Shelton continues to rack up points and lead a New York power play that’s second in the league at 20.8%. 

Usually it’s Corrine Schroeder whose praises we sing, but Abigail Levy’s 35 saves on 37 shots got New York into overtime against Minnesota. I’ll say it again: this league and world-class goaltending. 

Tyler: They played, what I think, their worst game of the season on Friday against Toronto. Abbey Levy almost single-handedly won the game against New York on Sunday, even though the team in front of her had plenty of chances to win it themselves. It seems like other teams are not caught off guard by New York anymore, and it is showing every night.

I think if they can just get the offense clicking again like it was early on, and they play with that bite, N.Y. will be right back in the thick of things.

New York is on the road, facing a tough test in Ottawa on Sunday.

6. Toronto

Record: 3-5-0, -9
Last Week: 6th
Hunter’s Rank: 6th
Tyler’s Rank: 6th

Tyler: We saw Toronto get revenge at home against New York, but that was really it. They were once again unable to beat Ottawa, granted it was on the road. One are that needs to improve is their power play, given the talent they possess, because it has really limited how much offense they create.

It was good to see Kristin Campbell have a bounce-back game against New York, but it will hurt them in the long run if they cannot find a stable backup.

Hunter: 1-1-0 this week, but they outshot both teams by 11 shots and looked to control play for most of it. Natalie Spooner absolutely put the team on her back with a two-goal performance against New York, she’s looked better and better with each game. Still waiting for Blayre Turnbull and Sarah Nurse to break out, with only one goal between them and the worst plus-minus among forwards on the club. Let’s see if they and Toronto can pick up their games in February.

They have an excellent opportunity to back on the horse this coming weekend, as they host Minnesota on Saturday.