What to know about the PWHL playoffs: Matchups, top players, schedule
What to know about the PWHL playoffs: Matchups, top players, schedule
Heather Burns, USA TODAYThu, April 30, 2026 at 10:06 AM UTC
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The Professional Women's Hockey League kicks off its postseason on Thursday, April 30, with the No. 2 seed Boston Fleet traveling to the No. 4 Ottawa Charge.
Why is the No. 2 seed playing the No. 4 seed? Because in the PWHL, the top seed earns the right to pick its opponent for the first round of the playoffs. The No. 1-seeded Montréal Victoire chose to play the two-time defending league champion Minnesota Frost, the No. 3 seed.
The Victoire are in the playoffs for the third straight season, finishing first for a second consecutive year. This season, the Victoire won all four games in their head-to-head season series against the Frost (13-5-9), including two overtime victories. They went 3-1 against the Charge (9-1-12).
The two semifinal series are best of five with the two winners advancing to the best-of-five finals to play for the Walter Cup. The Minnesota Frost beat the Ottawa Charge in four games for the Cup last season.
Here is the lowdown on each playoff team and the schedule:
1 / 0Rival powers battle as USA faces Canada at Winter Games
Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) of Canada gives up a goal to Caroline Harvey (not pictured) of the United States in women's ice hockey group a play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
No. 1 Montréal Victoire (16-2-6)
Ann-Renée Desbiens, who won Goaltender of the Year last season, has a league-leading 19 victories, 1.11 goals against average and .955 save percentage. Abby Roque, who leads Montreal in scoring with 22 points, is in her first season with the club after spending two years with the New York Sirens. It is the Victoire's third season in the playoffs; they were also the No. 1 seed last season and got beat in the semifinals.
No. 2 Boston Fleet (16-4-5)
Aerin Frankel, who was the goaltender for Team USA during the 2026 Winter Olympics, leads the Fleet with 19 victories, a 1.17 goals against average and .953 save percentage. Speaking of Olympic heroes, Megan Keller, who scored the winning goal in overtime in the gold medal game, has 18 points for the Fleet this season. Boston reached the Walter Cup Finals in its inaugural 2023–24 season, losing a five‑game series to Minnesota.
No. 3 Minnesota Frost (13-5-9)
The Frost have won back-to-back titles as the No. 4 seed coming into the playoffs. Minnesota has the league's three top scorers in Kelly Pannek (33 points), Taylor Heise (30) and Britta Curl-Salemme (29). Goalie Maddie Rooney has a .921 save percentage and 2.04 goals against average.
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No. 4 Ottawa Charge (9-1-12)
The Charge are the only team in the playoffs with a losing record. Eight of their nine victories came in overtime. Brianne Jenner, the fourth leading scorer in the league, leads Ottawa with 26 points. Rebecca Leslie is second in the league in goals with 14.
PWHL playoff schedule (first seven games)
Thursday, April 30
Game 1: Ottawa at Boston (Tsongas Center) at 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 2
Game 1: Minnesota at Montréal (Place Bell) at 2 p.m. ET
Game 2: Ottawa at Boston (Tsongas Center) at 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday, May 5
Game 2: Minnesota at Montréal (Place Bell) at 7 p.m. ET
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Game 3: Montréal at Minnesota (Grand Casino Arena) at 7 p.m. ET*
Friday, May 8, 2026
Game 3: Boston at Ottawa (Canadian Tire Centre) at 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Game 4: Boston at Ottawa (Canadian Tire Centre) at 3 p.m. ET**
*subject to change pending NHL playoff scheduling
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about the PWHL playoffs: Matchups, top players, schedule
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