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2024-25 PWHL Power Rankings: Week 6 (1/03-1/09)

Don't let the sun go down before you read up on what happened around the PWHL this week!

2024-25 PWHL Power Rankings: Week 6 (1/03-1/09)
Marie-Philip Poulin and Catherine Dubois high-five after beating Toronto. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Welcome back to The Ice Garden’s weekly power rankings! Check back every Friday for a new installment and remember: if you think your team is ranked too low, it’s definitely, totally, 100% because we hate them.

The PWHL has been buzzing this week thanks to the Takeover Tour kicking off with two great games and even better crowds in Seattle and Vancouver. Two teams pulled off big wins that earned them a bump up the rankings, while two others fell and the two stayed put. Every club will hit or cross the 10-game threshold this week, so while there’s still a long way to go, we’re beginning to get a better idea of what each team really is. Some are powerhouses, others need a shakeup, and the rest look solid. However, the standings remain tight, so it won't take much for a team's fortunes to change.

Oh, the rankings, the rankings, the rankings are back! Elton John themed, as a matter of fact! But first, a small disclaimer: the full songs I chose lyrics from are not always indicative of each team's vibe (I tried, but some would've required deep cuts from his catalog, which would have been less fun), so take the specific lyrics at face value. Now, read on, read on, to see where your team stands!

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#1. Montréal Victoire (4-2-1-1, 17 points)

Three Victoire players have their arms wide open and are about to enter a group hug to celebrate a goal. Two have their backs turned toward the camera while another faces the camera. They are wearing cream away uniforms.
Montréal Victoire players celebrate a goal against Toronto. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Last Week’s Ranking: 1 (-)

This Week’s Results:

  • Sun, Jan 5 @ BOS- 2-1 SOL
  • Wed, Jan 8 @ TOR- 4-2 W

Upcoming Schedule:

  • Sun, Jan 12 @ MIN- 3 p.m. ET, Ball Arena, Denver, CO (TSN, RDS, FanDuel Sports Network North, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)

Lyrics: From "Crocodile Rock"

"But the biggest kick I ever got/Was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock/While the other kids were rocking 'round the clock/We were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock/...I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will."

I’m not sure what the Crocodile Rock is, nor do I know what planet Marie-Philip Poulin is from that makes her able to score goals like this. But I do know that the Victoire are bopping along and there doesn’t appear to be a better team in the PWHL. My guess is that’s not going to change either.

Man, is this Victoire team good. They played in two Takeover Tour games this week, kicking things off in front of a raucous Seattle crowd before moving on to an even bigger, louder one in Vancouver. Some teams would be intimidated by that, but Montréal rose to the occasion and played two great games, even though they lost the first in a shootout. It’s not surprising given they’re led by Captain Clutch, who scored twice in Vancouver, but it’s impressive nonetheless. They shouldn’t have much trouble staying atop the league standings (or at least near it) for the foreseeable future.

#2. Minnesota Frost (3-3-1-2, 16 points)

Two Minnesota players celebrate with a group hug behind the goal. Another is skating in to join. They are wearing purple home uniforms.
Minnesota players celebrate a goal against Boston. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Last Week’s Ranking: 2 (-)

This Week’s Results:

  • Sat, Jan 4 vs NYC- 5-0 L
  • Wed, Jan 8 vs BOS- 2-1 OTW

Upcoming Schedule:

  • Sun, Jan 12 vs MTL- 2 p.m. CT, Ball Arena, Denver, CO (FanDuel Sports Network North, TSN, RDS, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)
  • Wed, Jan 15 @ NYC- 7 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (FanDuel Sports Network North, MSGSN2, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)

Lyrics: From "Philadelphia Freedom"

"I used to be a rolling stone, you know/…But the times have changed/The less I say, the more my work gets done."

Minnesota has gone from a team that could win any way to one that is better off when there’s not much going on. However, that’s mostly due to all their injuries, so once they’re healthy, they should be able to return to their rolling stone selves.

This week, the Frost did not look like the second-best team in the league. But it was too hard to justify moving any other team up enough to knock them down, so here we are. As mentioned earlier, the Frost are heavily injured right now and it’s showing. The good news, though, is they still managed to earn a win this week (albeit in overtime) and Sophie Jaques is due back any day now. Grace Zumwinkle may not be too far away either. So, reinforcements are on the way, and in the meantime, they keep finding ways to grind out points.

#3. Ottawa Charge (4-0-1-3, 13 points)

An up-close look at a celebratory Ottawa tight group hug. Three players are in the frame, and they are wearing white away uniforms.
Ottawa players celebrate during their game against New York. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Last Week’s Ranking: 5 (+2)

This Week’s Results:

  • Tue, Jan 7 @ NYC- 3-2 W

Upcoming Schedule:

  • Sat, Jan 11 vs BOS- 2 p.m. ET, TD Place, Ottawa, ON (CBC, NESN, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)
  • Tue, Jan 14 vs TOR- 7 p.m. ET, TD Place, Ottawa, ON (Amazon Prime, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)

Lyrics: From "I’m Still Standing"

​​"Don’t you know I’m still standin’ better than I ever did/Lookin’ like a true survivor, feelin’ like a little kid/…I’m still standin’ (yeah, yeah, yeah)."

Ottawa played probably their best game of the season this week, and they're feeling pretty good about themselves. Now, it’s whether or not they can stand strong for more than one game in a row, or if they’ll fall back into their old habit of relying on luck and Emerance Maschmeyer.

Ottawa had a light week, but they finally got a solid win. They had to kill four penalties while getting no power plays and still outshot New York 37-23 en route to a 3-2 win. They’ve now won three straight in regulation and sit in third place in the standings (and my very important rankings). There’s still some work to do to ensure they stay consistent, but they face two floundering teams this week, so if they can keep any of this momentum going, they’ll have a good chance to at least stay where they are in the standings.

#4. New York Sirens (3-1-1-3, 12 points)

Fillier skates down the handshake line at the bench. Her back is to the camera, and she is wearing a white away uniform.
Sarah Fillier celebrates a goal against Minnesota. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Last Week’s Ranking: 3 (-1)

This Week’s Results:

  • Sat, Jan 4 @ MIN- 5-0 W
  • Tue, Jan 7 vs OTT- 3-2 L

Upcoming Schedule:

  • Sun, Jan 12 vs TOR- 12 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (MSGSN2, TSN, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)
  • Wed, Jan 15 vs MIN- 7 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (MSGSN2, FanDuel Sports Network North, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)

Lyrics: From "I Want Love"

"So bring it on, I've been bruised/Don't give me love that's clean and smooth/I'm ready for the rougher stuff."

After a hot start to the season, the Sirens have faced some adversity these past couple of weeks, earning just four out of 12 points in their last four games. However, they were ready for it and are still playing well for the most part, so that's a good sign.

The Sirens had an outstanding start to the week, earning the first shutout and largest win margin in this PWHL season. They fell to the Charge a few days later in a lesser outing from their normally high-octane offense, but rookie netminder Kayle Osborne looked good in her first start, so that’s positive. They take on a struggling Toronto and beat-up Minnesota this week, so they’ll have a good chance to get back in the win column at least once.

#5. Boston Fleet (2-1-2-4, 10 points)

Frankel dives back with her arm outstretched. Emma Greco lunges in from the side with her stick outstretched, also trying to make the save. A Montréal player looks on excitedly even though the ref is signaling no goal in the background. The Boston players are wearing green, while the Montréal player is in cream.
Aerin Frankel dives to make a save against Montréal. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Last Week’s Ranking: 6 (+1)

This Week’s Results:

Upcoming Schedule:

  • Sat, Jan 11 @ OTT- 2 p.m. ET, TD Place, Ottawa, ON (NESN, CBC, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)

Lyrics: From "Rocket Man"

"And I think it's gonna be a long, long time/'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find/I'm not the man they think I am at home/Oh, no, no, no."

It’s been a long, long time since Boston was home. When they left, it looked like they were getting into a groove and would continue building up to their potential. However, they haven’t really looked like that team since, banking just four out of 15 points so far on this road trip. Oh, no, no, no.

The Fleet finally snapped their losing skid this week with a solid shootout win over an outstanding Victoire team. However, they followed it up with another overtime loss to a heavily-injured Minnesota. By the end of that game, they looked like a team that had played three games in six days, which all required travel through time zones. The Fleet can’t afford to make excuses and keep leaving points on the table but, given the circumstances, it’s hard to take too much from that game. They have 10 days off after the Ottawa game, so it will be a good chance for the team to reset, practice, and theoretically come out on the other side ready to make some noise. This roster still has potential, but they're running out of time to show it consistently. If they keep floundering much longer, it's time for GM Danielle Marmer to do something.

#6. Toronto Sceptres (2-0-1-5, 7 points)

Watts skates down the handshake line at the bench. She is wearing a blue home uniform.
Daryl Watts celebrates a goal against Montréal with the bench. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Last Week’s Ranking: 4 (-2)

This Week’s Results:

  • Wed, Jan 8 vs MTL- 4-2 L

Upcoming Schedule:

  • Sun, Jan 12 @ NYC- 12 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (TSN, MSGSN2, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)
  • Tue, Jan 14 @ OTT- 7 p.m. ET, TD Place, Ottawa, ON (Amazon Prime, PWHL Youtube Channel, thepwhl.com)

Lyrics: From "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"

"It's sad, so sad/It's a sad, sad situation/And it's gettin' more and more absurd."

Sad and absurd are two of the best ways to describe the Sceptres season so far. What a fall from grace it's been.

Sure, Toronto is still missing reigning PWHL MVP Natalie Spooner, but given offense is not their biggest problem, it’s doubtful her return will fix this. The defense has simply been abysmal this season. Kristen Campbell made her first appearance since December 18 and let up three goals (the other was an empty netter), but there’s not much she could’ve done to stop them. Over half of the Victoire’s shots came from the slot and all goals but the empty-netter did, so that’s on the defenders. The only team the Sceptres have managed to beat this season is the Fleet, who have struggled to generate offense, so it's not a stretch to see how they swung that. It’s a tough week ahead for Toronto as they face a high-octane New York team and a red-hot Ottawa club, but if they can pull out a win, things may not look so bleak.

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