PWHL Power Rankings: Week 14 (04/29-05/05)

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

We’ve made it to the end of the inaugural PWHL regular season. It’s wild to think that it’s already over. Two teams switched spots in this week’s rankings, but other than that, I don’t have much to summarize here. Instead, I want to take a moment to thank everybody who tuned into these power rankings even just once and allowed me to keep coming up with goofy themes and horrendous puns. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them even a fraction as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. Next stop: playoffs!

For the final regular-season theme, I pulled out my favorite Disney movie: Lilo and Stitch. Stitch is one of Disney’s most iconic characters. He’s cute, fluffy, and, much like this first PWHL season, delightfully chaotic. I can think of no better way to put a bow on the regular season than by assigning each team a memorable Stitch scene.

Note: All playoff broadcast information is based on posted TV schedules and a league press release. However, all networks marked with an asterisk (*) were mentioned in the press release but were not reflected in any online TV schedules as of submission on Monday night.

#1. Toronto (13-4-0-7, 47 points)

This Week’s Results:

• Wed, May 1 vs MIN- 4-1 W
• Sun, May 5 vs OTT- 5-2 W

Upcoming Schedule:

• Wed, May 8 vs MIN- 7 p.m. EDT, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON (TSN4/5, Bally Sports North*, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Friday, May 10 vs MIN- 7 p.m. EDT, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON (TSN3/4, Bally Sports North*, PWHL Youtube Channel)

Lilo and Stitch Scene: Stitch builds a scale San Francisco then destroys it.

Toronto's terrible start lulled the rest of the PWHL into a false sense of security. Similarly, Lilo thought that maybe she had calmed Stitch down when she asked him to try building something. However, then Toronto and Stitch went nuts. Toronto terrorized the rest of the league by going on an 11-game win streak, while Stitch did his best Godzilla and destroyed his creation. Meanwhile, everyone watching looked on with fear and/or concern.

Once Toronto figured out how to play hockey, it was over for the rest of the PWHL. They were well-deserving of the first playoff seed and a chance to pick their playoff opponent, which they used to select #4 Minnesota. It was a sensible pick given they are 2-1-0-1 against them on the season (versus 2-0-0-2 against Boston) and Minnesota has lost five straight games. However, Minnesota is still a strong team (especially if they snap out of their current funk), so Toronto can’t risk getting cocky and taking their foot off the pedal, or they’ll find trouble.

#2. Montréal (10-3-5-6, 41 points)

This Week’s Results:

• Sat, May 4 @ BOS- 4-3 L

Upcoming Schedule:

• Thu, May 9 vs BOS- 7 p.m. EDT, Place Bell, Laval, QC (TSN1/5, RDS*, NESN*, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Sat, May 11 vs BOS- 7 p.m. EDT, Place Bell, Laval, QC (TSN4, RDS2, NESN*, PWHL Youtube Channel)

Lilo and Stitch Scene: End montage of Stitch as an official part of the family.

At the end of Lilo and Stitch, after Stitch is sentenced to life in exile on Earth with Lilo and her family, there’s a montage of Stitch doing normal things and the family having various adventures. It turns out, Stitch can be good if he wants to be and learn how to do just about anything. In the PWHL, that’s Montréal. They’re strong at all positions and can do whatever they set their mind to.

Montréal only played one game this week and entered it in a difficult position. The result would not impact their fate, while Boston was desperate for points. So, Montréal needed to find a way to dig deep and match Boston’s urgency without really having anything to play for. They struggled mightily for a while, but in the third, they showed some serious character by fighting back from a three-goal deficit to briefly tie the game. Their regular season series against Boston was ridiculously close, so this playoff one is sure to be a doozy.

#3. Boston (8-4-3-9, 35 points)

This Week’s Results:

• Sat, May 4 vs MTL- 4-3 W

Upcoming Schedule:

• Thu, May 9 @ MTL- 7 p.m. EDT, Place Bell, Laval, QC (NESN*, TSN1/5, RDS*, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Sat, May 11 @ MTL- 7 p.m. EDT, Place Bell, Laval, QC (NESN*, TSN4, RDS2, PWHL Youtube Channel)

Lilo and Stitch Scene: Stitch rescues Lilo from Gantu.

Things looked bleak for Boston coming out of the international break. Similarly, once Stitch got knocked unconscious by Gantu’s blasters, things looked bleak for Lilo’s rescue mission. However, then Boston and Stitch woke up. Stitch stole an oil truck and drove it into a volcano, and the rest is history. Likewise, Boston got red-hot and gained 13 of 15 possible points while securing the third playoff seed. Improbable? You betcha. But also extremely fun? Absolutely.

It’s no secret: I’ve been expecting to write Boston’s post-mortem for a few weeks. Yet, here we are, and I’m happy to admit I was wrong. This is a different team since the international break which should make Montréal nervous. Boston is finally showing some of the consistency fans have been clamoring for all season, and they appear to be peaking at the right time. If they can keep building, they have a legitimate chance to pull off an upset in what is sure to be a nail-biter of a series.

#4. Ottawa (8-1-6-9, 32 points)

This Week’s Results:

• Tue, April 30 @ NYC- 4-3 L
• Sun, May 5 @ TOR- 5-2 L

Draft Position: #2

Lilo and Stitch Scene: Stitch attacks things then goes limp when Lilo puts a lei on him.

It was a rollercoaster season for Ottawa, but for a while, they looked a little scary. They won a lot games and gained control of their playoff destiny for a few weeks. Similarly, Stitch had a rollercoaster first day with Lilo. He was mostly a little terror after they left the adoption center, but he sprinkled in moments of docility when Jumba and Plekely were watching him. Then, once Lilo put a lei on him (a Hawaiian symbol of love, among other things), Stitch fell still. Similarly, once Ottawa was in firm control of their destiny, they seemed to forget what got them there and fell flat on their backs.

Just like I’ve been expecting to write Boston’s post-mortem for a few weeks, I wasn’t expecting to write Ottawa’s. They were in firm control of their playoff fate heading into the international break, and after, they only needed seven out of 15 remaining points. However, they couldn't get it done and now they’re stuck with no one to blame but themselves for an early end to their season. At least there’s the #2 pick to look forward to.

#5. Minnesota (8-4-3-9, 35 points)

This Week’s Results:

• Wed, May 1 @ TOR- 4-1 L
• Sat, May 4 @ NYC- 5-2 L

Upcoming Schedule:

• Wed, May 8 @ TOR- 6 p.m. CDT, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON (Bally Sports North*, TSN4/5, PWHL Youtube Channel)
• Friday, May 10 @ TOR- 6 p.m. CDT, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON (Bally Sports North*, TSN3/4, PWHL Youtube Channel)

Lilo and Stitch Scene: Stitch gets run over by a big truck.

Following an ill-advised space jump, Stitch miraculously landed on Hawaii instead of in the water on Earth. However, shortly after, he got run over by several big trucks. Meanwhile, Minnesota was cruising heading into the international break after winning five straight games. They even had a chance at the #1 seed heading into the final five games. But instead, it was like they’d also been run over by a truck and lost each one in regulation. Yet, somehow, both Stitch and Minnesota survived.

Minnesota has faceplanted their way into a playoff spot. They owe a big debt to Ottawa for not being able to figure it out either. At first, it seemed a little silly to keep them ranked below Ottawa, but these rankings reflect how the team is playing and not just the standings, and at least Ottawa managed to get some points after the break. It’s inexplicable what has happened in Minnesota, and they better figure it out fast before they see #1 Toronto for the first time tomorrow. Otherwise, it’ll be a short, painful series.

#6. New York (5-4-3-12, 26 points)

This Week’s Results:

• Tue, April 30 vs OTT- 4-3 W
• Sat, May 4 vs MIN- 5-2 W

Draft Position: #1

Lilo and Stitch Scene: Stitch tries to become a model citizen montage.

Lilo tried her best to teach Stitch to be a model citizen by trying to make him like her idol, Elvis Presley. Stitch also tried his best to learn, but just as he was about to pull it all together, he got spooked and ruined things for Lilo and Nani. Similarly, throughout the season, New York tried to get themselves together and, at times, it looked like they might. However, their lack of consistency cratered any playoff dreams.

New York finished their disappointing season on a high note this week, pulling off two regulations wins against floundering teams and securing the first overall pick in the draft. It wasn’t the season anyone was hoping for in New York, and as a result, there are likely a lot of changes coming next season. However, the first overall pick and chance to select Sarah Fillier is a good place to start, and their play at the end should give fans at least a glimmer of hope this is fixable.