PWHL Post-Olympics playoff picture update

Coming off dominant victories and devastating losses, the PWHL returned to action last week. With just under two months left before the playoffs, let’s take a look at the playoff picture coming out of the Olympic break.

Eight teams strong in the 2025-26 season, the top half of the league will secure playoff spots. Notably, the first seed gets to choose their opponent from seeds three and four.

The PWHL uses a 3-2-1point format, awarding three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime victory, and one for an overtime loss. This system significantly changes standings, giving much more weight to regulation wins and creating the opportunity for larger point gaps.

With 16 and 17 games played respectively, the expansion Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes sit in eighth and seventh. With just 16 and 19 points, it is unlikely either team will make a push for a playoff spot in their inaugural season, but not impossible.

At the other end of the league is the Montreal Victoire, currently in first place with 35 points in 18 games. They lead the league in penalty kill with an impressive 92.6% and are second in power-play percentage at 20.8%.

The Victoire is followed closely by the Boston Fleet’s 32 points in three fewer games. The Fleet has the highest win percentage in the league at 0.711, while Montreal has just 0.648. Boston had seven players in Milano, including three gold medalists in record-breaking goaltender Aerin Frankel, internet phenom Haley Winn, and golden goal scorer Megan Keller.

Defending back-to-back Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost sits in third with 28 points in 16 games played. Minnesota’s captain, Kendall Coyne Schofield, leads the league in points with 16, averaging just over a point per game with 15 games played. Forward Taylor Heise leads the league in assists with 13.

The Frost are closely followed by the Ottawa Charge, with just two points separating the teams. However, the Charge have played two more games than the Frost. They lead the league in power-play percentage at 22.2%.

Sitting just outside of a playoff spot are the New York Sirens and Toronto Sceptres, both with 24 points. The Sirens are in fifth with 18 games played, and the Sceptres in sixth with 19 games.

The Sceptres have struggled at home, currently at eighth in the league on home ice. They have only won one of nine games played in Toronto.

New York has fared much better at home, with five of their seven victories taking place in the Prudential Center.

Teams have 12 to 14 games remaining in the season to change the standings. No one is eliminated from contention yet, although the bottom teams are in danger of missing the postseason soon. Montreal will look to finish strong to remain on top and pick its playoff opponent, while Minnesota will look to push for a three-peat.

Jenny Karamus is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email jrk6308@psu.edu.