Six takeaways from the PWHL: Ottawa/Montreal animosity, Trudeau is a fan, and a suspension

Another week, more new events occurring in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

We had more controversy, some nasty battles, and some superstars came alive in the fourth week of PWHL action.

1. Montreal vs. Ottawa is must-see TV

While The Battle of Ontario has been something to watch, Ottawa is forming another fierce rivalry with the team closer in proximity.

Ottawa and Montreal had an instant classic in their inaugural matchup on Jan. 2, where Ann-Sophie Bettez’s overtime winner helped Montreal draw first blood.

Their second meeting this season had even more drama. There were a couple of nasty hits in the first period, and really throughout the game from both sides. There were many shoving matches after the whistle, showing the animosity between the two border rivals.

We even had a penalty shot. Emerance Maschmeyer stopped Montreal’s Laura Stacey. That was right after Maschmeyer was barreled into, leaving the Ottawa netminder on for a few minutes.

The game ended with Montreal winning, thanks to Maureen Murphy sending Ottawa home with another overtime loss.

Yet, things were not over, as Ottawa wanted the goal to be overturned, citing goaltender interference. However, even after a review, the goal stood.

In a strange moment after the goal was confirmed, Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod called her team over to the bench, rather than go into the handshake line, before getting a final explanation from the officials.

Controversy, drama, nastiness. You love to see it. Montreal and Ottawa only play each other three more times, but expect things to only heat up when the playoffs draw closer.

2. Minnesota is mortal

After such an impressive start to the season, it was only a matter of time before Minnesota came down to Earth. They did this week.

Granted, their losses to Montreal and Boston came by just one goal, including heavily outplaying Montreal on Wednesday, outshooting them 46-26. Yet, Minnesota did not have that ability to come in clutch to pick up wins.

They slumped out of the gate against Boston on Saturday, having to rally from a 3-1 deficit. Minnesota needed a Kendall Coyne Schofield goal in the final minute of regulation to force overtime, ultimately losing 4-3.

They survived against New York on Sunday, piggybacking off a great game from Nicole Hensley and an overtime winner from Abby Boreen – who was signed to a 10-day contract on Wednesday – to squeak out a 2-1 win.

Minnesota became the first team to have wins over each team in the league but is now in a tie with Montreal for first place.

The one big concern for Minny was their lack of scoring prowess. They scored just six goals this week, and while they are creating plenty of scoring chances, Minnesota cannot afford their finishers to go cold with a season that is already a third over.

3. A little too physical

Much has been made about the physicality of the PWHL, as body-checking is being allowed – to an extent.

It was only a matter of time before the line was crossed, and on Wednesday, it was.

In another ruckus game featuring Ottawa, Boston forward Taylor Wenczkowski was at fault, catching Ottawa defender Amanda Boulier with high hit.

At the time, Wenczkowski was handed a minor penalty for roughing, and Boulier was able to continue.

However, the league determined the penalty was not severe enough, suspending Wenczkowski for Boston’s game on Saturday against Minnesota.

The league set the right precedent by taking action against a dirty hit, and now players across the PWHL know where the line is. However, don’t expect the physicality to back down anytime soon.

4. Bounce-back Boston

Though it took them a while to get into a rhythm with their schedule, Boston has impressed in recent weeks, earning a couple of big wins in thrilling fashion.

Boston managed to settle down after blowing a 2-0 lead on the road against Ottawa on Wednesday, as Theresa Schafzahl’s second of the season with less than a minute to play in regulation helped Boston steal a 3-2 win.

Then, on Saturday, they let another two-goal lead slip away against Minnesota, this time allowing the game-tying marker in the final minute of play.

However, Boston wasted little time regaining the win, as captain Hilary Knight finally scored her first PWHL goal less than a minute into the extra frame.

With wins in four of their last five games, Boston has shot up to third in the standings. Players like Alina Müller, Jamie Lee Rattray and Loren Gabel have led the resilient group, with goaltenders Aerin Frankel and Emma Söderberg also coming up strong.

While it is still early, and regression to the mean is a possibility, Boston is showing the tools to be a threat this spring.

5. Big game, big stage

There were a few notable schedule changes last week, too.

First, Toronto and Montreal’s matchup on Feb. 16, was moved from the Mattamy Athletic Centre to the much. much bigger Scotiabank Arena for the inaugural “Battle on Bay Street.”

Also, it was reported by WPXI that the the PWHL will hold a neutral site game on March 17 in Pittsburgh. The Steel City is a market that the PWHPA was fond of during the Dream Gap Tour, and seemed like a viable option for a franchise.

It’s unknown if the said game will be at PPG Paints Arena, or the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. The UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex has been the home for the Rivalry Series in the past, but putting it in the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins could be huge for the league.

As it stands, no games are scheduled on St. Patrick’s Day. However, Ottawa/Boston and Toronto/Montreal matchups are set for March 16. On the PWHL website, those games don’t have locations.

Nevertheless, even with a team like Minnesota playing in an NHL arena, the fact that the PWHL is willing to go to big arenas shows how bold the first-year league is.

6. Prime-time action

It is also great to see world leaders support the game. During last Wednesday’s game between Ottawa and Boston, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got out of work early and sat amongst the near-capacity crowd at TD Place.

He might have got the same camera treatment that Taylor Swift receives when she is in attendance at a Kansas City Chiefs game, but you can tell Trudeau is all-in on the PWHL, especially the team in the nation’s capital.

Definitely going to be interesting how many times we see him at upcoming games, especially if Ottawa makes it to the playoffs.