PWHL Minnesota beats Montreal 3-2 in shootout before lengthy break

Sunday’s game wasn’t a farewell. PWHL Minnesota will be back on Xcel Energy Center ice in a little more than a month, following a 25-day break for the world championships.

Still, Grace Zumwinkle said the team felt some extra urgency as it faced Montreal to end a four-game homestand.

“It was a key emphasis to come out and start hard,” she said. “Heading into a long break, it was, ‘Give it all you got for one game.’”

Minnesota left its fans with a little something to remember it by in a 3-2 shootout victory. A rally from an early 2-0 deficit secured two points, solidifying the team’s hold on second place in the PWHL standings, and the shootout provided some extra drama for a crowd announced at 7,268.

The team enters the break on a five-game win streak, thanks to an offense that is gaining steam and a defense that has been rock-solid all season. Natalie Buchbinder and Lee Stecklein scored second-period goals only 24 seconds apart to erase Montreal’s first-period lead, while Zumwinkle scored twice in the shootout. Goaltender Nicole Hensley made 21 saves for her eighth victory of the season, second-best in the league.

When the team reconvenes in mid-April, it will have five regular-season games left before the playoffs. General manager Natalie Darwitz likes what she’s seen in recent weeks, including in Sunday’s game.

Minnesota is getting more scoring throughout the lineup, with two defenders providing Sunday’s goals. Coach Ken Klee praised his group for showing it can come from behind, after holding the lead in other recent victories.

Six Minnesota players are expected to play at the world championships April 3-14 in Utica, N.Y. The rest of the team will continue practicing to stay ready for the final stretch of the PWHL’s first season.

“It’s been a good solid season for us so far,” Darwitz said. “Our veteran players are playing like leaders, and we’re getting a lot of secondary scoring now, which is huge this time of year. Hopefully that can continue.”

Minnesota resumes play April 18 at Montreal, with four of its final five games on the road.

The U.S. has not yet named its roster for the world championships. It will hold a four-day selection camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., beginning Wednesday. Five PWHL Minnesota players are in the mix: Zumwinkle, Hensley, Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Kelly Pannek. Forward Denisa Krizova is expected to play for Team Czechia.

Minnesota is hoping to maintain the momentum it’s built in recent games, as it has evolved from a dump-and-chase style to more of a puck-control offense. That showed Sunday, as it outshot Montreal 36-23 and pressured goaltender Elaine Chuli throughout the game.

While Zumwinkle and Heise scored the shootout goals Sunday, several others have been chipping in as well, which Klee said will be important in the stretch run.

“We kind of solidified that we’re going to be a tough team to contend with, because we have multiple players that contribute every game, every night,” Klee said. “That’s a great feeling in the locker room and behind the bench. They all buy in, and they’re all really happy for each other when they’re doing well.”

Darwitz is hoping the team remains healthy. During the last break for international play, Heise was injured in a Rivalry Series game against Canada and missed five games. Sunday, Montreal was without star Marie-Philip Poulin, who has missed three games because of injury.

Klee said the break is an unusual situation, and the team will do its best to manage it. Zumwinkle is already thinking ahead.

“There are five regular-season games left,” she said. “So it’s going to be gas pedal down all the way when we get back.”