PWHL Power Rankings: Victoire leading the pack heading into the final week
The final week of the 2025-26 regular season is upon us.
Months of hard work have set the stage for a thrilling finish, with the battle for the top spot in the PWHL and the final postseason position in the spotlight. The race to see who wins the first-overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft is the undercard, but certainly carries importance for the future of the league’s two newest teams.
Hunter Crowther, Scott Maxwell and Tyler Kuehl break down where the eight franchises sit heading into the final few days before the Walter Cup Playoffs.
1. x-Montreal Victoire
Record: 16-5-2-5, +37
Last Week: 1st
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Scott’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 1st
Tyler: For the second week in a row, the Victoire did its part in showing that they are the best team in the league. Sure, blowing a two-goal lead against the team that they are trying to distance themselves from at the top of the standings, squandering a chance to grab three points, isn’t ideal. However, the way Montreal responded, not letting the collapse completely affect its psyche, shows that this team has a little more grit than it has in years past.
I love how Lina Ljungblom has really come to life in the second half of the season, as she’s been one of the team’s best offensive catalysts since the Olympic break. On top of that, Nicole Gosling is quietly making her case for Rookie of the Year. She has been clutch on the offensive end and has certainly held her own on the defensive end.
Hunter: (in the voice of The Count from Sesame Street) Seven! Seven straight wins! Ha ha ha (sorry, I’ve been watching a lot of children’s TV with my cousins). The Victoire extended their streak with an exciting overtime win over the second-place Fleet last week, capped with a Nicole Gosling OT-winner (shoutout London Devilettes!). What’s even more impressive is that Montreal has earned a point in 16 straight games, a streak that stretches well before the Olympic break.
Now the question becomes: Will Marie-Philip Poulin return for the playoffs? She’s been out of the lineup since a five-minute came on March 15 and hasn’t played a full game since two weeks before then. Montreal has stepped up in her absence, but she’ll be sorely missed if they start the Walter Cup Playoffs without her.
The Victoire, who sit two points ahead of the Fleet, face the Goldeneyes on Tuesday night in Vancouver, before visiting the Seattle Torrent on Saturday.
2. x-Boston Fleet
Record: 15-5-3-5, +26
Last Week: 2nd
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Scott’s Rank: 2nd
Tyler’s Rank: 2nd
Hunter: As mentioned, the Fleet dropped a heartbreaker against the Victoire Friday, but after a slow start, they stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to send it to overtime. Just days earlier, they hosted the Frost and gave them a taste of what’s to come if they face off in the playoffs. Boston outshot Minnesota 36-22 and Jessie Eldridge scored twice and assisted on Alina Muller’s game-winning goal to get the regulation win.
Speaking of Eldridge, she’s found her sea legs since being acquired from the Seattle Torrent. After going pointless in her first three games with the Fleet, she’s scored six goals in her last six games, including three last week.
Tyler: The Fleet had a tale of two games last week. For one, they dominated against the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday, picking up an important three points to keep up with the Victoire. Then, they fell flat out of the gate on Friday night, needing to rally in the second half in order to salvage a point. The more I’ve watched Boston play over the past few weeks, the more I wonder if the pressure is starting to get to the Fleet.
I still wonder if Kris Sparre’s decision to play Abbey Levy on Friday in Laval was the right one. Sure, giving Aerin Frankel some rest heading into the playoffs is crucial if the team wants to make a deep playoff run. However, if the Fleet wants to finish atop the standings, they need their big names to rise to the occasion this week.
Boston trails Montreal by two points coming into the week. The team wraps up the regular season with a pair of home games, hosting the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday before welcoming the New York Sirens to Lowell on Saturday.
3. x-Minnesota Frost
Record: 13-3-4-8, +20
Last Week: 3rd
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Scott’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler’s Rank: 3rd
Hunter: The Frost dropped two games in regulation last week and has now lost five of their last seven. But when you consider they’ve had the No. 3 spot essentially locked in for several weeks, who can blame them? Nicole Hensley had her best game since before the Olympic break, stopping 33 shots in the loss against Boston. While Maddie Rooney will likely get the crease in the postseason, Minnesota head coach Ken Klee can sleep easily knowing he’s got a reliable backup.
Tyler: It’s going to be interesting to see what head coach Ken Klee does this week. Thanks to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Toronto in their final home game of the regular season, the Frost will finish third in the PWHL, making their final two contests leading into the playoffs – matchups against the eliminated Goldeneyes and Torrent – meaningless in terms of points.
That said, the team could use this week against lower squads as an opportunity to build some confidence. While Minnesota isn’t sneaking into the postseason as it has in the past, the team doesn’t want to limp into the playoffs, as it has dropped each of its past two games. I expect a little jump from the Frost this week, though I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some experimenting with the lineup.
4. Toronto Sceptres
Record: 10-1-5-12, -17
Last Week: 5th
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Scott’s Rank: 4th
Tyler’s Rank: 5th
Tyler: Toronto grabbed a crucial regulation win over the Frost on Sunday to stay within reach of the Charge for fourth place. The team that possesses one of the worst offenses in the league held off the No. 1 scoring attack in the PWHL. A lot of credit has to go to Raygan Kirk. While she isn’t regarded as one of the top goaltenders in the league, she has been very important in the Sceptres’ success this season, having posted a pair of shutouts since the break.
What still concerns me is that Toronto will need to generate more offense if they want to leapfrog Ottawa in the standings. If not, we could see the team fail to make the postseason for the first time in franchise history.
Hunter: The entire 2025-26 campaign has felt off for the Sceptres, but the last few weeks have been especially hectic when you consider how many points they’ve left on the table. Last week, Toronto had a 2-0 lead over the Sirens midway through the third period when New York scored three unanswered goals to win it in regulation. Not even a 2-0 victory in Minnesota over the weekend could make up for it in the standings.
With two games left, the Sceptres will need two regulation wins — including Sunday’s finale against the fourth-place Charge — if they want to play postseason hockey.
The Sceptres are two points back of the Charge for fourth place. Toronto hosts the Sirens on Tuesday night, before visiting Ottawa on Saturday.
5. Ottawa Charge
Record: 8-7-1-12, -6
Last Week: 4th
Hunter’s Rank: 6th
Scott’s Rank: 6th
Tyler’s Rank: 4th
Tyler: That regulation win over the Sirens was so important for the Charge. After losing four games in a row, they have responded with consecutive victories in 60 minutes, taking down the Sceptres and Sirens. Gwyneth Philips was solid, as were Jocelyne Larocque and captain Brianne Jenner, in the victory over New York this past Saturday. You can tell Ottawa is feeling it at the most important part of the season.
The Charge have a pair of tough games to close out the regular season, as they certainly don’t want to leave any points on the table, as the margins are narrow. However, Ottawa has put itself in a position to head back to the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Hunter: The Charge won their only game last week in a 5-1 victory over the Sirens and can clinch a playoff spot through a number of scenarios, but the easiest path is winning both their remaining games against the Fleet and Sceptres. Brianne Jenner has heated up at the right time, posting a three-point effort against New York and now has career highs in all offensive categories. It’s been a remarkable bounce-back effort for the Ottawa captain.
While Gwyneth Philips will be a major factor if the Charge hold on, they still need production from beyond the usual suspects of Jenner, Rebecca Leslie and Gabbie Hughes, especially if they want to take down a juggernaut in one of the Victoire and Fleet.
The Charge comes into the week two points ahead of Toronto for the last playoff spots. Ottawa visits the Fleet on Wednesday before returning home on Saturday for the season finale against the Sceptres.
6. New York Sirens
Record: 9-2-3-14, -17
Last Week: 6th
Hunter’s Rank: 5th
Scott’s Rank: 6th
Tyler’s Rank: 6th
Hunter: On one hand, the Sirens’ 3-2 comeback win over the Sceptres was another in a long list of impressive comebacks New York has had this season. On the other hand, their 5-1 loss to the Charge deflated any momentum and essentially snuffed out their playoff chances, meaning they’ll fail to qualify for a third straight season.
One positive to build on going into next season is the play of Casey O’Brien. After recording just two assists in her first seven games, the 2025 No. 3 overall pick has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in her last 19 games, a point-per-game pace that’s catapulted her to the top-10 in league scoring.
Tyler: Well, it was fun while it lasted. Sure, beating the Sceptres the week before was important in giving the Sirens some confidence as they look to keep their fleeting postseason hopes alive, but New York is going to need far better efforts than it did on Saturday in Ottawa if the team wants to finally get into the playoffs. While they are getting chances, they have been failing to convert, and, as we’ve seen in the franchise’s first two years, when things start to spiral, it takes a lot to get the Sirens back on track.
New York isn’t totally dead yet, but trailing the Charge by five points with two games remaining doesn’t leave a lot of room for optimism. The Sirens visit the Sceptres on Tuesday before finishing things up against the Fleet on Saturday.
7. e-Vancouver Goldeneyes
Record: 8-2-4-14, -15
Last Week: 7th
Hunter’s Rank: 7th
Scott’s Rank: 7th
Tyler’s Rank: 7th
Tyler: It finally came to an end. The Goldeneyes have failed to qualify for the playoffs in their inaugural season. Even a record-breaking performance from Jenn Gardiner against Seattle on Saturday couldn’t give Vancouver the necessary points to stay alive. It helped tell the story that has plagued the team throughout the year. Talented enough to win exciting games, but not enough consistency to truly be a playoff contender.
Now, the Goldeneyes can focus on acquiring draft points. With two games to go, I wonder if there’s going to be a sense of urgency for some of the players who might want to return to the team next year. If they get more points than Seattle over the next two games, Vancouver could swoop in and snag the first-overall pick.
Hunter: I mean, at least they’re entertaining? The Goldeneyes won both games in a home-and-home with the Torrent, winning 4-1 at home then getting down in an ol’ fashioned shootout — not the kind Gary Bettman forced on the world in 2005 — scoring twice in the final two minutes of regulation and forcing overtime, where Jenn Gardiner scored her fourth of the game to give Vancouver a 6-5 OT win.
While the season hasn’t gone the way most expected, the Goldeneyes are showing flashes of promise that fans should look forward to going into 2026-27.
The Goldeneyes trail Seattle by one point in the Gold Plan. They’re at home for the final two games, hosting the Victoire and Frost on Tuesday and Saturday, respectively.
8. e-Seattle Torrent
Record: 7-1-4-16, -28
Last Week: 8th
Hunter’s Rank: 8th
Scott’s Rank: 8th
Tyler’s Rank: 8th
Hunter: See above, but with the glass half empty instead of half full. Their 16 regulation losses are a league record and they’ve given up a record-breaking 86 goals against (I know, all records in a three-year league should be taken with a grain of salt). To put it in perspective: Julia Gosling hasn’t scored a goal in her last 16 games and she has just four assists in her last 12. And she still leads the team in points.
Back to the drawing board for Meghan Turner and Steve O’Rourke.
Tyler: How bad is Seattle, you ask? Well, when the team had a two-goal lead against the Goldeneyes and had a great chance to get a head start on earning draft-order points, Seattle blew the advantage and lost in overtime. Even with the Torrent putting themselves in a position to properly build for the future, they can’t even do that right. I want to think this team can do what it needs to do to grab that No. 1 pick, but if the first 28 games this season have proven anything, I shouldn’t hold my breath.
Like the Goldeneyes, the Torrent finish up their inaugural season at home, taking on the Frost on Wednesday before hosting the Victoire on Saturday.