Sunday, February 23, 2025 | 12:30 p.m. CT | Xcel Energy Center
WATCH LIVE: FanDuel Sports Network North, TSN 2, TSN.ca, TSN App, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
Jamie Hersch (Play-by-Play), Alexis Pearson (Analyst), Kevin Gorg (Reporter)
TORONTO SCEPTRES
7-2-4-6 | 29 PTS | 2ND PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: Hannah Miller – 19 GP, 10-12-22 PTS
Last Game: 4-1 W at NY on Feb. 19
MINNESOTA FROST
6-4-3-6 | 29 PTS | 2ND PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: Kendall Coyne Schofield – 19 GP, 8-10-18 PTS
Last Game: 4-0 W at MTL on Feb. 18
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: MINNESOTA LEADS 6-3 IN POINTS (TORONTO WON 8-4 IN 2024)
Dec. 7 at TOR: 6-3 MIN | Jan. 28 at MIN: 4-3 MIN (SO) | Feb. 11 at TOR: 3-2 TOR (OT) | Feb. 23 at MIN | Mar. 9 at TOR | Mar. 30 at MIN
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Dating back to last season, each of the last six regular-season meetings between Toronto and Minnesota have had at least five combined goals scored. The only regular-season game in the matchup that didn’t was the first one (3-1 Minnesota win).
Toronto has scored at least three goals in eight straight games, more than twice as long as the next-longest active streak by any PWHL team this season (three streaks of three). It is also the longest such streak by any team in league history. The Sceptres also have the longest power play goal streak in PWHL history converting on the advantage in eight straight games (15/31).
Hannah Miller had two goals and two assists on Wednesday, the second four-point game by a PWHL player this season (Claire Thompson, 1G, 3A, Dec. 19). It was Miller’s second multi-goal game this season with only Marie-Philip Poulin (three) also having multiple multi-goal games in 2024-25.
In Wednesday’s win over New York, Julia Gosling became the first PWHL skater this season to have two power-play goals in a single game. The Sceptres first-round pick has five power play points in her last five games, including four PPG which is tied with Miller for most this season.
Renata Fast has scored in all three games against Minnesota this season and leads the head-to-head series with five points (3G, 2A). She scored the OT winner at 4:56 to beat the Frost on Feb. 11.
Natalie Spooner will play at Xcel Energy Center for the first time since she suffered a knee injury in Game 3 of the PWHL Playoffs on May 13. The reigning MVP, who was honored at the PWHL Awards in downtown Saint Paul on June 11, was held off the scoresheet in each of Toronto’s trips to Minnesota last season.
Minnesota is coming off a 4-0 win over Montréal, their first shutout this season and largest margin of victory in 2024-25. The four-goal margin of victory is also tied for the largest in team history with consecutive four-goal wins last March.
Denisa Křížová scored twice in the third period in Tuesday’s win after entering the period with just one goal for the season. Křížová is the eighth different skater with a multi-goal game for the Frost this season – no other team has more than four such players this season.
Sophie Jaques is riding a three-game point streak with six points (2G, 4A) and ranks third in scoring among defenders behind only Fast and Thompson. Her 14 points (3G, 11A) in 14 games makes her one of three active skaters with a point-per-game average or greater this season (Miller 1.16, Fillier 1.0).
The Frost spent the week training at the Super Rink, home of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team, in Blaine, MN. The team’s regular training facility at TRIA Rink in St. Paul served as a host for the Minnesota State High School Girls Hockey Tournament.
Claire Butorac spent part of the week coaching the Andover Huskies Girls’ Hockey Team in the State Tournament. The Huskies lost their opening round game to Hill-Murray High School but rallied to beat Centennial/Spring Lake Park and Moorehead to claim the Consolation Title. The Frost forward is a graduate of Andover High School and played on their first state tournament team in 2014 along with Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney.
Taylor Heise (Red Wing) was a 2018 Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award recipient, and Grace Zumwinkle (Breck School) won in 2017.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We’re excited for the game. We’re tied in the standings so it’s a huge game for both teams and I’m excited to work on the momentum we have as a group.” - Sceptres forward Emma Maltais.
“We’re really happy to be back in front of our great fans. I liked our game against Montréal and we’re looking to build on that against a good Toronto team. Every game is a tough test, this one is no different. We just need to play 60 minutes and play our game.” – Frost Head Coach Ken Klee.
SUNDAY’S GAME: The Frost will celebrate Black History Month this afternoon in their first and only February home game at Xcel Energy Center. Mosaic Hockey Collective – an organization committed to increasing representation in hockey - will be featured throughout the Unity Game and recognized for their impact in fostering an inclusive hockey community for players of color. Akua Tieku will represent Mosaic for a ceremonial puck drop, and players from the Collective will participate in an on-ice shootout during the first intermission and enjoy Zamboni and Fanboni rides. The Frost will also recognize the newly crowned Minnesota Girls High School Hockey State Champions and the winners of the Ms. Hockey Award and the Jori Jones Award honoring the best high school player and goaltender in the state.