Around the PWHL: Teeing up the Walter Cup playoffs

Welcome to the special playoff edition of The Backcheck!

After a thrilling Super Saturday that came down to a shootout for the top spot in the standings, the Montreal Victoire prevailed and chose to face the back-to-back reigning Walter Cup champ, the third-ranked Minnesota Frost, in the semifinals.

The other matchup will see the Boston Fleet, who finished second overall, clash with the No. 4 Ottawa Charge — who handily won its Super Saturday matchup.

Let’s break down each matchup as the puck drops on the best-of-five semifinals Thursday at Boston’s Tsongas Center (6 p.m. CT, TSN).

Boston Fleet (16-5-4-5) vs. Ottawa Charge (9-8-1-12)

Frankel’s Fleet

Reigning women’s Olympic gold netminder Aerin Frankel concluded the regular season with a 30-save shutout of the New York Sirens on Saturday. She is tied in wins with Montreal Victoire’s Ann-Renée Desbiens (19), and boasts the second-best goals-against average (1.17) and save percentage (.953).

There’s a reason Frankel is belovedly referred to as the Green Monster.

And, while the Fleet also boast the league’s second-highest goal scorer in Barrie, Ont., product Jessie Eldridge (tied-14), this series has all the signs of a defensive battle. ‘Why?’ you may ask. Well, please make note of the next subhead.

Revenge of the understudy

Reigning women’s Olympic gold medal backup Gwyneth Philips has been on a mission this season and she’s ready to prove herself as more than just Frankel’s national backup. Philips made 41 stops in her shutout win over the Toronto Sceptres Saturday, backstopping Ottawa to its second straight post-season.

The Athens, Ohio, native — whose nickname is Gwynsanity — was second in victories with 16. She is fifth in goals-against (2.12) and fourth in save percentage (.931), but she is hard to beat and will be motivated by staring at her Team USA counterpart from across the rink every game.

The Charge have been the scrappiest team all season long, pulling out overtime wins and picking up points here and there to earn a playoff berth. Also look for team point leader Brianne Jenner (26) and team goal leader Rebecca Leslie (14) to get the puck moving.

2025-26 season series

The Charge won the season series 3-1 — all in extra time (Dec. 27, 3-2 shootout win; Jan. 11, 2-1 shootout win; Feb. 28, 3-2 shootout win; April 22, 2-1 overtime win).

Montreal Victoire (16-6-2-6) vs. Minnesota Frost (13-3-5-9)

Desbiens’ revenge

Speaking of Olympic medallists, since returning from the Milan Cortina Games in February with a silver medal, the Victoire’s Desbiens has climbed the mountain to the top of the goalie standings. The Brick Wall of Charlevoix is tied for first in wins (19), and clocks in as first in goals-against (1.11) and save percentage (.955).

Desbiens did end her season in a shootout win, but the Seattle Torrent’s Alex Carpenter managed to slip a regulation goal past her and Hilary (Captain America) Knight bulged the twine against her in the shootout.

That being said, Montreal is an offensive threat. Abby Roque and Laura Stacey lead the team in points (22) and Marie-Philip (Captain Clutch) Poulin is back in action. Look to them to lead the Victoire in post-season scoring as well.

Push for a three-peat

Montreal made a statement by picking Minnesota in the first round of the Walter Cup playoffs. Will it back fire? It may.

The Frost are the back-to-back reigning champs and while they struggled at the end of the regular season, the Victoire have never won a playoff round against them.

Minnesota also boasts the top three scoring leaders in Kelly Pannek (33) — who also leads in goals (16) — Taylor Heise (30) and Britta Curl-Salemme (29), the assist Queen (18). Pannek, Heise and Oakville, Ont., product Kendall Cooper sit tied for second in assists (17).

The Frost fire on all cylinders, and the Victoire may have just given them the spark to push for a chance at a three-peat.

The Walter Cup could very well go through Minnesota once again.

2025-26 season series

The Victoire swept the season series 4-0 (Jan. 4, 3-2 overtime win; Jan. 21, 2-1 overtime win; March 1: 4-0 win; March 25: 3-0 win.

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