On Feb. 17, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) started their weekend slate with a contest between Minnesota and Ottawa, with Minnesota coming out as 2-1 victors. Moving four points ahead of them for first place in the PWHL, it was a nice win for them. As for Ottawa, a loss made it just a little bit harder for them to climb out of last place and find themselves in a playoff spot. What were some takeaways from this one?
Minnesota Came Out Hungry
To start the game, Minnesota was hungry for a lead. They had the majority of possession and looked poised to score the first goal. It’s not that Ottawa didn’t do anything early on, but Minnesota had more noticeable chances and stints of offensive pressure. Somewhat inevitably, they did get that first one, but it took until late in the first period for them to be rewarded.
It came just after a nice sequence for Minnesota that almost had them score on a few looks, but their goal ended up being due to a collision by two Ottawa defenders that left Sophia Kunin all alone for a breakaway that she made no mistake on. Regardless, a goal is a goal.
Minnesota playing well, or at least early, has become the norm this season. There’s a reason why they have 21 points and a 7-2-2 record and it’s not by some fluke. They play a good game, especially early on. Their opponents tend to settle in as time goes on, so they must score when they’re hot. Luckily for them, they got that goal and it was something they could lean on for a little while. With a netminder as good as Nicole Hensley in the net to back you up, it’s not an awful strategy.
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The Minnesota defense actually did a good job in this one to help Hensley out, but she’s among the best women’s hockey netminders in the world and might be the very best right now depending on who you ask. These games generally don’t have a ton of scoring with the decider being by a goal relatively frequently. One dominant period is all it takes to make that a reality, and that’s what Minnesota did in this one.
Ottawa Returned the Favor
With all that praise for Minnesota aside, it’s time to give Ottawa its flowers. They had a terrific second period, but they were especially good around the middle of it. Their pressure was so good that, just like for Minnesota, it was only a matter of time before they struck. As fate would have it, that’s exactly what…
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