The Backcheck

A look back at the week that was in the PWHL

While the league took its first official international break this past week for the Rivalry Series, it was after a busy weekend. Here are storylines from around the PWHL from the three action-packed games.

Highlight of the week

The Boston Fleet remain perfect on the season after besting the Minnesota Frost 4-1 at Aganis Arena in the last game before the international break on Sunday. Goalie Aerin Frankel was sensational in net and St. John’s, N.L., product Abby Newhook picked up her third goal of the season.

The Fleet look like the team to beat so far this year, and the goal differential knocked the Frost into fourth place in the standings, tied for points with the Sceptres and Victoire. Meanwhile, with the fourth regulation win of the year, the Fleet have a six-point lead in the standings on four teams of the eight-team league.

Marvellous Manitobans

It was a fabulous weekend for the league’s Manitobans.

Deloraine’s own, and Vancouver Goldeneyes captain, Ashton Bell scored her first goal of the season (and netted her first point), in the Goldeneyes’ 4-0 thumping of the New York Sirens last Saturday.

Out east, Winnipeg’s Kati Tabin netted her first goal of the year in the Montreal Victoire’s 3-1 win over the Toronto Sceptres, picking up her second point of the year. Tabin scored on Ste. Anne’s Raygan Kirk, who saw her third start of the season for the Sceptres.

Kirk is currently enjoying a .917 save percentage in the early stage of this season despite the loss.

Game(s) to watch in Week 4

With league play resuming Tuesday after Saturday’s Rivalry Series concludes in Edmonton, the logjam of second place in the standings will be partially sorted Wednesday night in a triple-header.

The Sceptres are set to host the Victoire to kick off the evening, with one of the Canadian clubs being able to solely claim second place unless the Sirens play spoiler to the Fleet’s perfect record in the second game of the night.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Charge and Seattle Torrent will clash in Wednesday’s finale in the hopes of leap-frogging their way out of the league’s basement.

winnipegfreepress.com/graceannepaizen