PWHL playoff preview: Montreal’s bold choice, Minnesota’s last dance, plus how to watch
The Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs begin Thursday, with top-seeded Montreal choosing to face two-time defending champion Minnesota in the first round instead of fourth-seeded Ottawa. The decision marks a strategic shift for Montreal, which has been eliminated in the first round in each of the past two seasons. Ottawa will play second-seeded Boston to open the postseason, while Montreal and Minnesota begin their series on May 2.
- ▪Montreal, the top seed, chose to play Minnesota—the two-time defending PWHL champion—over Ottawa in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.
- ▪Since the inaugural 2024 season, the PWHL regular-season champion has had the option to select either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed as their first-round opponent.
- ▪Minnesota enters the playoffs on a four-game losing streak but leads the league in goals (91) and has five of the top 10 scorers, including Kelly Pannek with 33 points in 30 games.
- ▪Ottawa secured the fourth and final playoff spot on the last day of the regular season and will face the Boston Fleet in the opening round.
- ▪The Montreal-Minnesota playoff series begins on Saturday, May 2, while Boston hosts Ottawa on Thursday.
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