PWHL Power Rankings (02/12-02/18)

Note: This story was submitted before Monday's games but was held until today for content planning purposes. Monday's game between Ottawa and Boston will be taken into account for next week's power rankings.

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

After a one-week hiatus due to the international break, we’re back! Two bigger swings aside, there was no movement in this week’s power rankings. Montréal remains top dog, while Ottawa stays in the basement. Most of the teams continued the streaks they started before the international break, which was great in some cases and infuriating in others. This week could be a big one in terms of seeing what the currently streaky teams are made of.

As for a theme, I’m a huge Disney fan, to put it simply. So, for this week’s power rankings, I’ve picked a scene or quote from a Disney animated movie that describes how things are going for each team right now. There was an overwhelming amount of choices, so don’t be surprised if this theme pops back up at some point. In the meantime, please reminisce with me on some incredible moments in Disney movie history. I don’t know about you, but I can hear all of the included GIFs. But, in case you can’t, I’ve provided a link to a clip of each so you too can have them stuck in your head. You’re welcome!

#1: Montréal (4-3-2-2, 20 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 1 (-)

This Week’s Results:

• Fri, Feb 16 @ TOR- 3-0 L
• Sun, Feb 18 vs MIN- 2-1 W

Upcoming Schedule:

• Weds, Feb 21 @ NYC- 7 p.m. EST, UBS Arena, Elmont, New York (TSN+, RDS2, MSG, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Sat, Feb 24 vs OTT- 2:30 p.m. EST, Verdun Auditorium, Montréal, QC (Sportsnet, SN+, SRC, TOU.TV, PWHL Youtube Channel)

Disney Quote: From "The Lion King" (1994)

Timon, Pumba, and Simba, singing: “Hakuna Matata/What a wonderful phrase/Hakuna Matata/Ain't no passing craze/It means no worries/For the rest of your days/It’s our problem-free philosophy/Hakuna Matata”

They may have melted down a little bit in the third period against Toronto on Friday, but Montréal isn’t too worried about anything these days. Both their goaltenders are outstanding, and their offense and defense are solid. Their penalty kill is excellent. The only slight concern is their power play, but even that finally scored against Minnesota yesterday (it was just their second PPG of the season), which hopefully signifies a turnaround for it. There’s too much talent for it to be clicking at just 5.9% all year. They’re second in the league in points and first in points percentage, and they keep finding ways to win. Everything is looking up Montréal, so, in the wise words of Timon and Pumba, “Hakuna Matata.”

Montréal’s week shouldn’t be too challenging for them. First up is New York, which is currently riding a two-game win streak but has had a roller coaster season. Then, struggling Ottawa comes to town. If Montréal sticks to their game, these are both winnable, and they’ll have a chance to solidly jump Minnesota in actual points. They’re currently just one point back with a game in hand, and Minnesota only plays one game this week.

#2: Toronto (5-1-0-5, 17 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 4 (+2)

This Week’s Results:

• Weds, Feb 14 @ BOS- 5-3 W
• Fri, Feb 16 vs MTL- 3-0 W

Upcoming Schedule:

• Fri, Feb 23 vs NYC- 7 p.m. EST, Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto, ON (TSN, MSG, PWHL Youtube Channel)

Disney Quote: From "Lilo and Stitch" (2002)

Captain Gantu: “You’re vile! You’re foul! You’re flawed!”

Stitch: “Also cute and fluffy!”

This one was a little mean given their ranking, but it also feels accurate. So many people, myself included, keep saying that Toronto is a flawed team. Yet, thanks to Natalie Spooner and Kristen Campbell’s turnaround, they’re on a four-game win streak. We still haven’t seen much behind them outside of one game, but right now, they’re chucking teams out the window as Stitch did to Gantu.

Toronto finally won a game in which Natalie Spooner did not score on Friday. She didn’t even record a point. Spooner is still carrying the offense, scoring 38% of Toronto’s goals, but it’s nice to see they can win without her carrying them. Toronto’s record-breaking game on Friday was an impressive showing from the team as a whole, and they’ll need a lot more of those performances going forward if they hope to keep the win streak going. Their previous game against Boston was less impressive for the team as a whole, with Spooner recording a hat trick and Campbell making 32 saves while Boston outplayed them for large stretches. So, I’ll need to see more games like Friday’s to be convinced this team is for real. They have a light week this week, with just one game on Friday against New York. If they show up like they did against Montréal, they should be able to keep the streak alive.

#3: Minnesota (5-2-2-3, 21 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3 (-)

This Week’s Results:

• Sat, Feb 17 @ OTT- 2-1 W
• Sun, Feb 18 @ MTL- 2-1 L

Upcoming Schedule:

• Sun, Feb 25 vs BOS- 3 p.m. CST, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN (Bally Sports North, NESN, Sportsnet, PWHL Youtube Channel, SN+)

Disney Quote: From "Finding Nemo" (2003)

Dory: “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming swimming swimming”

Minnesota is battling a little bit of adversity right now, with star forward Taylor Heise out with an injury she sustained in the Rivalry Series. But, they’re back to their winning ways after dropping three out of four heading into the international break. So, right now, they just need to keep swimming.

Minnesota is still looking a bit vulnerable and they squeaked their wins in their last two games. They’ll need some more offense to sustain their current point pace, but they’re finding ways to win again and that’s what matters most right now. After playing back-to-back games this weekend, Minnesota has a light week, as they play just one game and it isn’t until Sunday. They’ll face a Boston team that is also struggling to score right now, but they have a busy week to try to figure that out, so it will be an interesting match-up. It will be the third time that these two teams play each other, with both previous matchups being decided by just one goal, with the last one going to overtime.

#4: Boston (2-2-2-3, 12 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 2 (-2)

This Week’s Results:

• Weds, Feb 14 vs TOR- 5-3 L
• Sat, Feb 17 vs NYC- 2-1 OTL

Upcoming Schedule:

• Mon, Feb 19 vs OTT- 4:30 p.m. EST, Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA (NESN, TSN, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Weds, Feb 21 vs OTT- 7 p.m. EST, Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA (NESN, TSN, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Sun, Feb 25 @ MIN- 4 p.m. EST, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN (NESN, Bally Sports North, Sportsnet, PWHL Youtube Channel, SN+)

Disney Quote: From "Peter Pan" (1953)

Peter Pan: “All it takes is faith and trust, oh, and something I forgot, dust”

Wendy, John, and Michael Darling: “Dust?”

Peter Pan: “Yup, just a little bit of pixie dust”

Things have been frustrating for Boston recently. They’re losing games they feel they should be winning because they can’t score. But, they also feel as if it is only a matter of time before their highly-touted offense finally figures it out. All they need to do is keep the faith, trust the process, and maybe sprinkle some pixie dust on those sticks.

Boston falls into the bottom half of the rankings this week after dropping both their games. However, they got the fourth spot because they outplayed Toronto and New York for most of the games. The offense is just snakebit right now, but, if they can figure that out then they’ll be just fine. They’re doing enough to hang around in the playoff race in the meantime, as they sit fifth in actual points but fourth in points percentage (which I mantain is the more important measure).

Boston has a busy week this week, as Ottawa comes to town for a two-game stint starting this afternoon, and then they travel to Minnesota on Sunday. Ottawa is struggling worse than Boston right now, but that means they should also be hungry to snap out of it. Meanwhile Minnesota will be a tougher test, but Boston beat them last time in one of their best games of the season, so it should be a good game, especially if the monkey gets off Boston’s back.

#5: New York (2-3-1-4, 13 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 5 (-)

This Week’s Results:

• Sat, Feb 17 @ BOS- 2-1 OTW

Upcoming Schedule:

• Weds, Feb 21 vs MTL- 7 p.m. EST, UBS Arena, Elmont, NY (MSG, PWHL Youtube Channel, TSN+, RDS2)
• Fri, Feb 23 @ TOR- 7 p.m. EST, Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto, ON (MSG, TSN, PWHL Youtube Channel)

Disney Quote: From "Mulan" (1998)

Mushu: “Let me see your war face”

*Mulan makes a face*

Mushu: “Oh, I think my bunny slippers just ran for cover. C’mon, scare me, girl!”

*Mulan makes a tougher face and gives a warrior cry”

Mushu: “That’s my tough-looking warrior! That’s what I’m talking about!”

New York hasn’t been overly threatening this season. They rely heavily on Corinne Schroeder to keep them in games and Alex Carpenter to provide offense, but they’ve finally managed to string together consecutive wins for the first time. Theoretically, they’re a better team than they’ve shown, so as long as they keep their current face on and not the bunny-slipper-scaring-one, they’ll give themselves a chance to claw their way into the playoffs.

If Boston hadn’t outplayed New York for large stretches of the game on Saturday, New York would’ve jumped them in the rankings this week. But, because they only had one game and they probably didn’t deserve to win it (but did thanks to Schroeder), they remain at #5. They play two games this week against two of the current best teams in Montréal and Toronto, so it’ll be a good test to see what this team is really made of. Schroeder is the primary reason this team is winning games, because she keeps them in every single one she starts, even when the skaters are struggling. Meanwhile, Alex Carpenter has been essential for the team’s offense, factoring into 50% of their goals while leading the league in points (12) with an even balance of goals and assists. But, New York will need the rest of the players will have to start showing up more consistently if they hope to walk out of this week with more wins.

#6: Ottawa (2-0-4-3, 10 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 6 (-)

This Week’s Results:

• Weds, Feb 14 @ MIN- 2-1 L
• Sat, Feb 17 vs MIN- 2-1 L

Upcoming Schedule:

• Mon, Feb 19 @ BOS- 4:30 p.m. EST, Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA (TSN, NESN, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Weds, Feb 21 @ BOS- 7 p.m. EST, Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA (NESN, TSN, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Sat, Feb 24 @ MTL- 2:30 p.m. EST, Verdun Auditorium, Montréal, QC (Sportsnet, SN+, SRC, TOU.TV, PWHL Youtube Channel)

Disney Quote: From "The Emperor’s New Groove" (2000)

Yzma: “Pull the lever, Kronk”

*Kronk pulls lever*

Yzma: “WRONG LEVERRRRRRRRRR”

Kronk: “Huh?”

Yzma: “Why do we even have that lever?”

Things are not going well in Ottawa. Every time it looks like they’ll smooth things out, someone pulls the wrong lever, and they end up losing again. It’s time to figure out who’s pulling the loss lever and stop them before it’s too late. Or, better yet, just remove the lever entirely and string together some wins for the first time this season.

Every Ottawa loss this season has been by a single goal. They are frequently losing games they deserve to win. It’s inexplicable at this point, but they have got to figure it out before they run out of time. They have a busy week this week, with two games against Boston and one against Montréal. They simply cannot afford to drop all three: even though they will only be at the halfway mark of the season, three losses this week would essentially spell their playoff doom.