Boston’s perfect run in the playoffs is over, and the PWHL Finals are all square through two games as the series shifts to the State of Hockey.
Minnesota earned a 3-0 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night at the Tsongas Center to even this best-of-five series for the Walter Cup, handing the previously perfect 4-0 Boston their first loss of the post-season.
Defender Sophie Jaques had two goals, Michela Cava’s early marker stood up as the winner, and Nicole Hensley posted a shutout in her first playoff performance in nearly two weeks.
Here are our takeaways from Game 2:
Cava’s hot play continues
After recording a goal and two assists in Game 1, it was Minnesota winger Michela Cava who got her team on the board in Game 2.
Mellissa Channell made a solid defensive play that led to a turnover in Minnesota’s end, and she dished the puck to Cava, who skated down the ice on a two-on-one with captain Kendall Coyne.
Cava made the saucer pass intended for Coyne, but the puck never made it to the captain — it deflected off the stick of Boston defender Megan Keller, bar down and in, to give Minnesota the 1-0 lead.
It was just Minnesota’s fourth shot of the first period, nearly 15 minutes in.
Cava, the 30-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., is now second overall in playoff scoring with four points.
Jaques strikes 1:56 later
Defender Sophie Jaques extended Minnesota’s lead to two less than two minutes later.
Jaques fell just as the puck was coming out to her at the point, but picked herself up, then made a nifty move to buy herself time and space and fired a low shot from the dot that beat Aerin Frankel.
Back in February, Jaques was traded from Boston to Minnesota. The 23-year-old from Toronto won the Patty Kazmaier award in 2023 as the top player in NCAA women’s hockey while she played for Ohio State, and the defender had two goals in the regular season.
Jaques added the empty-netter late in the third, for her fifth point in the playoffs. That ties her for the lead with teammate Taylor Heise for most points recorded in the post-season.
Hensley back between the pipes
Maddie Rooney backstopped Minnesota for all three wins in the team’s first-round reverse-sweep of No. 1-seeded Toronto, but in Game 2 against Boston, Minnesota turned to Team USA veteran Nicole Hensley.
Hensley was the top goalie drafted earlier this season, and played Game 1 against Toronto in the first-round series, giving up four goals on 20 shots in a 4-0 Toronto win. Rooney came in for Game 2 against Toronto and was stellar in helping her team to three straight wins.
Following Minnesota’s 4-3 loss in Game 1 to Boston, head coach Ken Klee opted to make the change. Hensley played 14 of 24 regular season games for Minnesota, posting a 2.19 GAA, 1 shutout and a 7-5 record.
Hensley was solid Tuesday, making 20 saves for the shutout.
When the final buzzer went, the goaltender did a fist-pump as she skated out to hug her teammates.
Boston goal called back
Boston defender Jess Healey fired the puck into the open net, then threw her arms in the air while 4,543 fans in the stands roared right along with her, 2:21 into the second period.
Not long after, the goal was called off.
It was pure confusion on the ice for many, and it looked as though Hensley lost track of the puck. Boston forward Sophie Shirley fell in the blue paint and was then shoved by Minnesota forward Sophia Kunin, and then out popped the puck to Healey, who fired it home.
It was under review, and when the officials confirmed it was no goal, boos rained down from the crowd. Boston coach Courtney Kessel was clearly unhappy with the explanation she got from officials.
Hilary Knight without a point so far
Boston captain and star forward Hilary Knight had a team-leading five shots on Tuesday, and she got her chances, but Knight was again held off the scoresheet.
The all-time leading scorer in world championship play, Knight has no points through five playoff games.
Knight had a near breakaway on the penalty kill and was taken down by Jaques, which Boston fans were none too pleased about: “Refs you suck!” chants followed.
Knight was all over the ice, and you have to think she’s going to strike soon, as she so often does in big moments.
Game 3 is Friday night in Minnesota.
