Record-setting highlights and what to watch on Super Saturday

Everybody take a moment to catch their breath.

What a week in the PWHL. It had everything: an equalizing goal with two seconds left on the clock, a four-goal night for Jenn Gardiner, a Toronto Sceptres shutout over the reigning Walter Cup champ Minnesota Frost, a Jocelyne Larocque jailbreak goal, and Hayley Scamurra’s league-record hat trick in just 2 minutes, 44 seconds. Oh, and Sophie Jaques became the first defender to 50 career points.

In all the fun chaos that was, the Vancouver Goldeneyes and New York Sirens were knocked out of playoff contention. And Ottawa’s overtime upset of the Boston Fleet on Tuesday night has forced an all-or-nothing Super Saturday final clash for the Charge against the Sceptres.

Let’s take a look at the highlights from Week 19 and what to watch on Super Saturday before next week’s special playoff edition of The Backcheck.

Highlight(s) of the week

Where to start?

Hannah Miller’s equalizer against the Seattle Torrent on Saturday capped off the barnburner. Audible gasps in the arena — and on coaches of fans — could be heard around the league as North Vancouver’s own Miller sniped the puck past Carly Jackson with two seconds left on the clock.

What’s that? There’s more from the same game?

Oh, yes, the Goldeneyes’ Jenn Gardiner had a four-goal night. Gardiner capped off Vancouver’s comeback just 52 seconds into overtime. Assisted by who? Miller and Jaques.

Miller ended up racking up a four-point night (one goal, three assists).

Jaques would earn her 47th, 48th and 49th points on the night. And on Wednesday, Jaques would earn her 50th point, becoming the first defender in PWHL history to reach 50 career points.

The Frost were shut out?

That’s correct. The Minnesota Frost were shut out by Ste. Anne’s Raygan Kirk on Sunday, which gave the Toronto Sceptres much-needed life in the playoff race. Kirk stopped all 24 shots she faced on the night.

More highlights from the PWHL’s marvellous Manitobans?

You bet. Fellow Ste. Anne product Jocelyne Larocque scored the first jailbreak goal of her career in Saturday’s clash against the New York Sirens.

In fact, it was the first of the Charge’s two jailbreak goals in the game — the second one also coming in the second frame as Peyton Hemp picked up her first jailbreak goal and second goal of her career.

Scamurra had a hat trick in under three minutes, and Montreal still lost?

Yep. Absolutely wild.

Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie pulled Sandra Abstreiter from the net with seven minutes left in the game on Tuesday night as Montreal found themselves in a 4-0 hole.

Scamurra stepped up and scored a league-record setting three goals in under three minutes. But it wouldn’t be enough as Brandon’s Kristen Campbell backstopped the Goldeneyes to the 4-3 victory.

It all comes down to Super Saturday

Once Montreal first took the No. 1 spot in the standings in March, they have been a team on a mission.

The Victoire have also defeated Boston in both meetings this past month — shutting out the Fleet on April 11 in Boston’s barn and nabbing a 3-2 overtime victory last Friday at home.

Boston is still only one point out of the top spot in the standings — boasting 59 points to Montreal’s 60 — so first place will come down to Super Saturday.

Meanwhile, cemented third-place finisher Minnesota has been struggling at the end of this season. The Frost were shut out by Toronto on Sunday and then lost 5-4 to the league basement dwelling Torrent on Wednesday. The club hasn’t played convincing enough hockey for an easy road to a three-peat.

The fourth-place race has been the most fun over this past week, with the conclusion culminating in a Charge versus Sceptres clash in a win-or-go-home matchup.

The Sceptres, who currently sit in fifth place with 38 points, will need a regulation win to topple the Charge, who sit the full three points clear of Toronto at 41.

 

Game(s) to watch on Super Saturday

PWHL fans, do yourselves a favour and get comfy on your coach this Saturday. All four games are ones to watch, and all of them — arguably — have implications.

The Boston Fleet must pick up points over the New York Sirens in the first game of the day (11 a.m. CT, TSN) for a chance at a first-place finish in the standings and pick of semifinal playoff opponent.

The second game of the day decides the fourth and final playoff spot as the Ottawa Charge host the Toronto Sceptres (1 p.m. CT, CBC). A winner-take-all matinee? Yes, please.

The first of the evening games will see the Minnesota Frost take on the Vancouver Goldeneyes (6 p.m. CT, TSN). Now, this may not have explicit playoff implications, but seeing how the Frost fare against eliminated Vancouver may reveal what direction the club is trending in and how much of a chance the team has at a Walter Cup three-peat.

Last, but most certainly not least, the Montreal Victoire are on the road against the Seattle Torrent (9 p.m. CT, TSN) and need two points to clear any Boston Fleet regulation win to secure first place.

After the final buzzer sounds on Saturday night, the Walter Cup contenders will be set with the puck dropping on the playoffs April 30.

Happy Super Saturday, PWHL fans! Buckle up for a fun finish.

winnipegfreepress.com/graceannepaizen