PDub ReDub: Catching up after a week off

PDRD returns as a team-by-team recap of the past week of PWHL action, now moved over from its former home on Rinksiders. This year, it will be formatted as a PWHL power ranking and will include an outside-the-box stat for each team! Here’s how things look coming off the international break.

8. Seattle Torrent (Last Week: 7)

This Week: 2-1 W vs NY

This looks like an odd choice off the top, especially since the Sirens were the #1 team last time, but I’m still not sold on Seattle. Both their goals were scored on an extended six-on-four, and before that power play they were set to record less than 20 shots on net. I don’t think the Torrent will be in this spot for long, but I have to see more at even strength.

Nat’s Stat: Seattle Torrent forwards Alex Carpenter and Hilary Knight’s goals on Wednesday marks the first time a team has scored multiple goals on the same major penalty in PWHL history.

7. Ottawa Charge (Last Week: 3)

This Week: 5-1 L vs MIN, 3-1 L @ TOR

Ottawa’s sole victory over the Goldeneyes was dominant enough to keep them out of last for right now, but they thoroughly underwhelmed in a couple of games they really should have showed up for. They got some nice moments with Rory Guilday and Fanuza Kadirova’s first PWHL goals as well as a save-of-the-season out of Gwyneth Philips, but the Charge need more than just moments right now.

Nat’s Stat: Ottawa Charge forward Emily Clark took nine shots on goal between her team’s last two games, bringing her season total to 17. Clark has the most shots on goal of any PWHL player yet to find the back of the net, tied with New York’s Anne Cherkowski who has played one additional game.

6. Vancouver Goldeneyes (Last Week: 8)

This Week: 2-0 L @ BOS, 4-0 W vs NY

If only their entire schedule was at home. Like Seattle, Vancouver beat last week’s #1, but unlike Seattle, it was in convincing fashion. However, their first period against the Fleet may have been the most thoroughly dominated a team has looked at any point this season, and that prevents the Goldeneyes from flying too high on the rankings.

Nat’s Stat: Vancouver Goldeneyes forward Abby Boreen scored twice against the Sirens on Saturday. This marks her second multi-point game of the season and eighth of her career, which account for 16 of her 23 points overall.

5. Toronto Sceptres (Last Week: 6)

This Week: 3-1 W vs OTT, 3-1 L @ MTL

Even with Daryl Watts’ absence only being an abbreviated one, the Sceptres still can’t seem to put the puck in the net. They’ve scored seven goals through four games, one on an empty cage, and their once-vaunted power play is operating at just 6.3% for the season. Emma Gentry showed she’s got quite the shot on her against Montréal and could be the scoring solution Toronto’s looking for, but she’s only taken two tries at goal so far after racking up nine in the preseason.

Nat’s Stat: Toronto Sceptres forward Claire Dalton blocked two shots against her former team in Montréal on Sunday. She has at least one blocked shot in every game this season so far, and in each of her last six games that she’s received at least five minutes of ice time, dating back to the playoffs. 

4. Minnesota Frost (Last Week: 5)

This Week: 5-1 W @ OTT, 4-1 L @ BOS

The Frost were pretty difficult to evaluate this week. They stormed out of the gate against Ottawa, but most of the rest of the game from there was just sitting on that cushion. They didn’t look great against the Fleet, but hardly anyone who’s played Boston has. Minnesota’s at least starting to get some scoring out of their depth, and for accomplishing what I was looking for out of them, I’ll move them up.

Nat’s Stat: Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield recorded her first career hat trick on Tuesday against the Charge. This leaves Toronto’s Blayre Turnbull as the lone team captain who plays forward yet to record a hat trick in the PWHL. 

3. New York Sirens (Last Week: 1)

This Week: 2-1 L @ SEA, 4-0 L @ VAN

The Sirens dropped both games of their first west coast road trip, and drop out of first as a result. Kayle Osborne, who carried New York through their first week and change, showed some signs of fatigue, and the snakebitten first line couldn’t break through to compensate. The week off and some more time for things to even out should be a benefit for the Sirens.

Nat’s Stat: New York Sirens forward Maddi Wheeler recorded five shots and five hits in Saturday’s game against the Goldeneyes, becoming the first player this season to record at least five of each in the same game. Only 25 other players have at least as many of both over the course of their entire seasons.

2. Montréal Victoire (Last Week: 4)

This Week: 3-1 W vs TOR

Just one game for the Victoire this week, but they were in control the entire time. Their even strength offence came courtesy of their second and third lines, led by Natálie Mlýnková with an assist and five shots, while the big guns chipped in on the power play. A complete performance for a Montréal team that’s showing their season opener was an aberration.

Nat’s Stat: Montréal defenders have put five pucks past opposing netminders in their last 17 games, dating back to last season. Kati Tabin now has four of those goals.

1. Boston Fleet (Last Week: 2)

This Week: 2-0 W vs VAN, 4-1 W vs MIN

That’s more like it! An average of 33 shots over their last two games after putting up just 12 against the Sceptres addressed the only thing keeping Boston out of the top spot. They’re a perfect 4-0-0-0, while getting .980 goaltending and running such balanced lines that Susanna Tapani’s been listed as the 4C of late. Granted, their performance screams unsustainable, but I can’t hold that against the Fleet before it happens.

Nat’s Stat: Aerin Frankel is good at hockey.