On the break: How the PWHL is shaping up on the ice

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By way of a wildly entertaining first 19 video games for every of its six member golf equipment, the PWHL has exceeded expectations on each degree.

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From attendance to social media interactions to degree of play and elegance of play, the hits got here one after one other within the first three months of league play.

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At this level it’s nonetheless too near say which group seems to be finest located to take dwelling the first-ever PWHL Championship, however there was some separation within the ranks by the primary 114 video games performed.

FROM A TEAM STANDPOINT

After a sluggish begin, PWHL Toronto discovered its rhythm and reeled off a ridiculous 11-game profitable streak that got here to an finish in Ottawa simply earlier than the break.

That stretch allowed Toronto to take over sole possession of first within the league, although its lead stays very tenuous.

Minnesota, a group that was robust out of the gate after which took a step again when its finest participant, Taylor Heise, was out for a month with an damage she suffered throughout Rivalry Collection play with Staff USA, is true there with Toronto, sitting simply three factors again.

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The one different group that got here near the success Toronto and Minnesota loved was Montreal, although it missed its personal main scorer, Marie-Philip Poulin, for the 4 video games earlier than the break and fell off somewhat due to that.

Ottawa would seem to have the within observe on the fourth and closing playoff spot following some daring strikes on the commerce deadline that led to a powerful push going into the break.

Ottawa celebrated three regulation wins aat thnd an extra time loss in its closing 4 video games earlier than the break bringing them inside 4 factors of third-place Montreal and giving them a five-point edge on fifth-place Boston.

Once more, as a result of the league scoring permits for 3 factors for a regulation win little or no has been settled, however a separation from the highest three to the underside three is seen.

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Ottawa picked up each Tereza Vanisova and Shiann Darkangelo on the commerce deadline which has given them a second scoring line and added veteran presence within the locker room.

At this level Minnesota in all probability has the sting of their commerce with Boston which noticed Sophie Jaques head to Minnesota and Suzanna Tapani and Abby Prepare dinner transfer to Boston.

TOP DEFENSIVE TEAM

By way of 19 video games, this can be a two-horse race between Toronto and Minnesota with the group from the south popping out simply forward at this level within the yr.

Backed by the strongest tandem goalie duo within the league in Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney, and a defence that obtained a lift by way of the commerce market with the arrival of Sophie Jacques, Minnesota has allowed simply 35 objectives in opposition to this yr, or 4 fewer than the next-best group, which is Toronto.

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Hensley and Rooney have cut up the duties nearly evenly (Hensley with 11 begins, Rooney with eight) and each stand with sub-2.00 objectives in opposition to averages and at the very least on the .925 save share mark.

Toronto’s Kristen Campbell leads all goalies with 12 wins and three shutouts along with being the hardest to attain on in a shootout, having allowed only one purpose in 10 makes an attempt.

Strictly from a blue-line perspective, Toronto in all probability holds an edge with the highest worldwide tandem within the sport in Renata Quick and Jocelyne Larocque within the fold to say nothing of the puck-moving abilities of Kali Flanagan and the intimidating presence of Allie Munro, who is among the hardest gamers within the league to play in opposition to.

Minnesota depends closely on Lee Stecklein (27 1/2 minutes an evening) with the newcomer Jacques and Natalie Buchbinder additionally taking part in large minutes.

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And no defensive record can be full with out point out of Megan Keller, who has been a rock in Boston.

TOP OFFENSIVE PRODUCERS

Toronto’s Natalie Spooner caught fireplace within the eighth sport of the season and actually hasn’t slowed down since. Spooner leads the league in factors with 20 and objectives with 15, and has been unstoppable when she will get close to the blue paint.

Accidents have held a few PWHL stars from protecting tempo. Montreal’s Poulin nonetheless sits third in scoring with 17 factors regardless of, as talked about, lacking these 4 video games with a decrease physique damage.

Minnesota’s Heise got here out weapons blazing till an damage price her a month of the season.

Sizzling on Spooner’s heals and equally as wholesome is New York’s Alex Carpenter, who has 19 factors together with eight objectives.

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Ottawa’s Katerina Mrazova is up there, too, with 17 factors together with six objectives.

Two to look at who’ve been getting stronger because the season has gone on are Minnesota ahead Grace Zumwinkle, who’s second in scoring with 9 objectives, and Ottawa’s Darryl Watts, who had a hat trick in opposition to Toronto within the sport going into the break and now has eight objectives.

Brianne Jenner of Ottawa and Toronto’s Sarah Nurse even have been approaching of late within the factors division.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ottawa and New York have been monsters on the facility play this season with Ottawa changing on 15-of-56 alternatives and New York profitable on 15 of its 64 conditions with the additional skater.

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Boston, Montreal and Minnesota, three groups you wouldn’t count on to have any bother on the facility play, have all struggled in that regard. Boston has simply three power-play objectives in 44 probabilities whereas Montreal has simply 5 of their 62 alternatives and Minny simply 4 of their 46 player-advantage conditions.

Toronto’s penalty kill has been on level all yr with a 92.9% kill charge whereas additionally tied for the league in short-handed objectives scored with three ‘Jailbreak’ objectives as they’re known as on this league now with the added bonus of getting your teammate out of the sin bin if you rating short-handed.

Proper with Toronto within the penalty-kill division is New York, which efficiently has defended all however 5 of their 56 occasions once they had been at an obstacle.

Surprisingly, Minnesota and Boston convey up the rear in penalty-kill success.

mganter@postmedia.com

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