Around the PWHL: Sirens sell out MSG; The Canadian wall; Irwin in for MacLeod; Playoff race logjam

GLASGOW — As former Bisons women’s hockey coach Mike Sirant and Swan River’s Tristan Langan prepare for their playoff run with the Glasgow Clan ice hockey club that starts Sunday here in beautiful Glasgow, Scotland, yours truly has kept their eye on the PWHL even though they’ve been on an academic trip.

Because of course I have!

Here’s a short and sweet version of the Backcheck for those of you who have stuck by this little column.

Highlight of the week

The New York Sirens have come swinging into the playoff conversation, stringing together a couple wins that started on April 1 with a particularly impressive 4-3 victory over the reigning Walter Cup champions in overtime.

If that isn’t impressive enough, the Sirens next win came last Saturday in a shootout against the Seattle Torrent at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.

People watch women’s sports — it’s just a fact.

The shootout win was backstopped by Elm Creek’s own Corinne Schroeder, who made 37 stops on 38 shots on the night.

The Sirens are now in striking distance of a playoff spot and just one regulation win away from tying the fourth place Toronto Sceptres for points in the standings with 34.

The Canadian wall

Well, well, well. Look who backstopped the Montreal Victoire to first place in the standings.

That’s right, Canadian darling and the Montreal Victoire’s wall Ann-Renée Desbiens helped the Victoire cruise to a 4-1 victory over the the Seattle Torrent on Tuesday.

With the win, Montreal sits at the top of the pack with 55 points.

Yes, the Boston Fleet are a point behind with a game in hand, but Desbiens’ 24 save performance on Tuesday proved — yet again — there’s a goalie debate about who’s the best in the league between her and the Fleet’s Aerin Frankel. It also made the vote for which goalie should win the MVP award this season even more complicated.

This should be a fun conclusion to the regular season.

MacLeod stepping away for now

The Ottawa Charge announced Monday that assistant coach Haley Irwin will be stepping in as interim head coach for the club as head coach Carla MacLeod continues her cancer treatment.

MacLeod announced in November she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Free Press is wishing you all the best, Carla.

Game to watch in Week 18

Speaking of the New York Sirens, the game to watch this week is the rematch of April 1 against the Minnesota Frost as the Sirens take on the Cup champs for the second time in three games (12 p.m. CT, Sportsnet).

The question remains: are the Frost the real deal?

And, maybe more importantly, if the Sirens come away with points, New York will spark a serious logjam for the fourth and final playoff spot with the clock ticking on the conclusion of the regular season.

Having fun yet?

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