Minnesota Frost Storm Back Vs. Montreal Victoire, Forcing Game 5 In Pwhl Semifinals

The Minnesota Frost avoided elimination with a 3-1 comeback win against the Montreal Victoire on Friday night in Game 4 of the PWHL’s semifinals.

Montreal forward Maureen Murphy opened the scoring 41 minutes into another tight contest. No stranger to the pressures of playoffs, however, the Frost stormed back, scoring three goals in the final 12 minutes of regulation to force a deciding Game 5 back in Montreal.

Defender Sidney Morin continued her torrid playoff scoring pace, netting two goals in under four minutes to help the Frost force a deciding Game 5 back in Montreal. Morin’s second goal of the night — scored on the power play after Laura Stacey was called for roughing — would prove to be the game-winner. It also broke Minnesota’s uncharacteristic streak of failing to score on 10 straight power-play opportunities. The Frost had the league’s best power play (23 percent) in the regular season.

Kelly Pannek — who led the regular season in both goals (16) and points (33) — scored her first of the playoffs with the Montreal net empty to seal the win. Maddie Rooney, playing on back-to-back nights, was stellar again for the Frost, making 29 saves on 30 shots. Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 28 of 30.

The Minnesota Frost are now 5-0 when facing elimination in the playoffs.

Sidney Morin plays hero (again)

After Minnesota lost four critical pieces to its blue line in the offseason — Claire Thompson, Sophie Jaques and Mellissa Channell-Watkins signed with expansion Vancouver; Maggie Flaherty signed in Montreal — the Frost went out and signed Morin from the Boston Fleet.

“Our staff had identified Sidney Morin as a top target heading into the signing period,” said general manager Melissa Caruso back in June. “She’s a reliable defender whose work ethic and offensive abilities will complement our D-core perfectly.”

Morin played a consistent role on the Frost blue line, but failed to score in her first regular season in Minnesota. The playoffs have been a different story. Morin’s four goals through four games tie her career goal total through 84 regular-season games and now lead the postseason.

She has now scored three of Minnesota’s last four goals in a rare playoff back-to-back and scored a critical goal in Minnesota’s 5-4 overtime victory in Game 1.

Much of Minnesota’s regular season was about its stars. The Frost had the best offense (91 goals) and the best group of five forwards in the league all regular season. Kelly Pannek, Taylor Heise, Grace Zumwinkle, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Britta Curl-Salemme combined for 65 goals this season, which is more than three entire teams — Toronto, New York and Seattle — scored all season.

But it’s their depth getting it done in the postseason so far.

Maddie Rooney stands tall

It was somewhat surprising to see Rooney start four straight games for Minnesota, including on back-to-back nights Thursday and Friday. Minnesota coach Ken Klee has typically rotated his goalies, and with three games in four nights — including travel from Montreal to Minnesota — it would have made sense to see Nicole Hensley in at least one of Games 3 or 4.

If Hensley was going to get into a game, it likely would have been Game 3, to give Rooney a rest for a high-stakes Game 4. However, Rooney has been exceptional in the series and has earned every bit of the net she’s gotten.

That much shouldn’t come as a shock. Rooney, like the Frost in general, is a proven playoff performer. She went a perfect 5-0 in last year’s championship run and posted an absurd 1.12 goals against average and .948 save percentage in Minnesota’s first Walter Cup championship.

This year’s playoffs have been no different, save for Game 1, where Rooney and Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens allowed a combined nine against in the second-highest scoring game in PWHL postseason history.

Rooney followed that game up with a 51-save performance in Minnesota’s 1-0 triple overtime loss and has been the most important player on the ice for the Frost on a nightly basis.

She now has an incredible .937 save percentage through four starts and a 1.68 goals against average.

“She’s a top goalie in the league there’s no question,” Klee said on Thursday. “She’s really on her game. I think it gives all our players a real confidence boost.”

The playoff schedule

While the Ottawa Charge and Boston Fleet had a six-day break in the league’s other semifinal, the schedule for Montreal and Minnesota has proved challenging.

Game 3 on Tuesday went to triple overtime and did not end until 11:29 p.m. ET. Both teams then traveled from Montreal to St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday and have since played games on back-to-back nights.

“I think it’s a little inappropriate, honestly,” Heise said after Minnesota’s loss in Game 3. “Both teams are going through it. The other teams (Boston and Ottawa) had six days in between games and we didn’t, and that’s just the reality of what the league wanted.”

There are scheduling conflicts at play at Grand Casino Arena, with the Minnesota Wild hosting the Colorado Avalanche for Games 3 and 4 in the second round of the NHL playoffs on Saturday and Monday. In Montreal, the Victoire have also had to schedule games around the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

Still, it’s hard to argue with Heise’s assessment. At least now both teams should have one true day off – and another day of travel – before Game 5 on Monday night back in Montreal.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, NHL, Women's Hockey

2026 The Athletic Media Company