Monday, May 26, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. CT | Xcel Energy Center
WATCH LIVE: TSN 3, TSN.ca, TSN App, FanDuel Sports Network North, MSGHD, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International), more below.
Kenzie Lalonde (Play-by-Play), Cheryl Pounder (Analyst), Rob Pizzo (Reporter), Daniella Ponticelli (Panel Host), Becky Kellar (Panel Analyst), Alexis Pearson (Panel Analyst);
FR: RDS 2, RDS.ca, RDS App with Claudine Douville (Play-by-Play), Isabelle Leclaire (Analyst), Catherine Savoie (Reporter), Andrée-Anne Barbeau (Studio Host), Karell Émard (Studio Analyst)
OTTAWA CHARGE (3)
Top Scorer: Emily Clark – 7 GP, 3-2-5 PTS
Goalie: Gwyneth Philips, 4-3, 1.17 GAA, .953 SV%
Playoff Stats: PP 1/17 (5.9%), PK 16/19 (84.2%)
MINNESOTA FROST (4)
Top Scorer: Lee Stecklein – 7 GP, 4-4-8 PTS
Goalie: Maddie Rooney, 4-0, 1.97 GAA, .921 SV%
Playoff Stats: PP 6/19 (31.6%), PK 12/14 (85.7%)
2025 PWHL FINALS: MINNESOTA LEADS BEST-OF-FIVE SERIES 2-1
Game 1 at OTT: 2-1 OTT (OT) | Game 2 at OTT: 2-1 MIN (OT) | Game 3 at MIN: 2-1 MIN (3OT) | Game 4 - May 26 at MIN | Game 5 - May 28 at OTT
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: SERIES TIED 9-9 IN POINTS (MINNESOTA WON 10-5 IN 2024)
Minnesota Home Games: Dec. 19: 5-2 MIN | Jan. 21: 1-0 OTT | Mar. 7 at RALEIGH: 5-0 MIN
Ottawa Home Games: Feb. 13: 8-3 OTT | Mar. 11: 3-2 OTT: Apr. 30: 3-0 MIN
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Game 3 between the Charge and the Frost was the ninth game in matchup history (including playoffs) decided by one goal or a shootout. That is the third most one-goal games between any two PWHL teams all-time (Boston & Montréal – 11; Montréal & Ottawa - 10). With the first three games of the PWHL Finals all going to overtime, the teams have played an additional 69:08 this series.
All three games of the PWHL Finals have been 2-1 overtime results. For comparison, the last time a series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs had three straight games with the same OT scoreline was 2008 in a first-round matchup between Colorado and Minnesota (3-2). The only time the Stanley Cup Finals has had each of its first three games go to overtime was in 1951, when all five games between Montreal and Toronto went to OT.
Each of Ottawa’s seven playoff games have been decided by one goal, the longest streak to start a playoff run in PWHL history. The only NHL teams with a longer run to start a single postseason are the 2015 Rangers (13), 2017 Senators (eight) and 2003 Mighty Ducks (eight).
The Charge have played a team record eight straight games without a regulation loss since falling 3-0 to the Frost on Apr. 30. Ottawa’s last ‘must-win’ game was on May 3 in the regular season finale in Toronto where the Charge secured a 2-1 overtime victory against the Sceptres on a goal by Kateřina Mrázová to clinch the team’s first-ever playoff berth.
Emily Clark has combined for three goals and 18 shots on goal over her last four playoff games. No other PWHL player has reached those totals over any four-game span across both postseasons.
Ottawa’s power play has converted only once on 17 opportunities in the playoffs and is 0-for-8 this series. Brianne Jenner scored the lone Ottawa goal with the player advantage in the opening game of the playoffs.
Tereza Vanišová, who led the Charge with 15 regular season goals, is still looking for her first of the postseason. Her current 11-game drought is tied for the longest of her career dating back to the final 11 games of the inaugural season. It’s not without opportunity, as the Czech forward is tied for the playoff lead with 28 shots on goal.
Minnesota has four comeback wins in the 2025 playoffs, including Game 2 and Game 3 of the PWHL Finals. All other PWHL teams have combined for zero comeback wins this postseason.
Katy Knoll ended the third-longest game in PWHL history with her triple-overtime tally at 109:57 on Saturday. Knoll scored against her former Northeastern teammate Gwyneth Philips, one year after attending the PWHL Finals together in Boston and appearing on the Game 2 broadcast discussing their excitement for the PWHL Draft. As Huskies, the pair won four Hockey East titles before turning pro.
Knoll (2G, 2A) and Klára Hymlárová (1G, 3A) are tied for the rookie lead in playoff scoring, and, together with linemate Liz Schepers (1G, 1A), have combined for 10 points this postseason – matching their collective production across the entire regular season.
Lee Stecklein, who leads the playoffs in scoring with eight points, recorded a goal, four blocked shots and two penalty minutes in Game 3. The only other PWHL player to match those marks in a single game (regular season or playoffs) was Toronto’s Allie Munroe on Mar. 6, 2024 against Boston.
Maddie Rooney has back-to-back games with at least 35 saves and one or fewer goals allowed. The only other PWHL goalie to do that in consecutive games (regular season or playoffs) is Aerin Frankel (May 9-11, 2024 in postseason).
Rooney was on the winning side of a 2-1 overtime marathon Saturday, prompting memories of her collegiate career with Minnesota-Duluth when her Bulldogs lost 2-1 in quadruple-overtime to Bemidji State in the WCHA quarterfinal on Feb. 29, 2020. She made 59 saves in 128:43 in the game played alongside Frost teammate Maggie Flaherty and the Charge trio of Ashton Bell, Gabbie Hughes and Mannon McMahon.
The Walter Cup was in Xcel Energy Center exactly one year ago on May 26, 2024, for Game 4 of the PWHL Finals when Minnesota had their first chance to win the inaugural title but suffered a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Boston. That game ended at 98:36 which represents the longest scoreless stretch in a single PWHL game all-time. The third longest stretch without a goal in PWHL history occurred on Saturday with Minnesota and Ottawa playing 86:58 without a goal.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I feel like our second half of the season has kind of been a do-or-die situation for us. I think as female hockey players, we're in these moments a lot more frequently than the men because of the World Championships, the National Championships and the college playoff formats. We're ready for these moments. We had to win our last game of the season in Toronto to push us into the playoffs. I think that every game is kind of just a do-or-die situation for us. And you know, we live for these moments. We’re excited to embrace it.” – Charge forward Rebecca Leslie
“We don’t take opportunities like this for granted. Every game has been a battle and we know we’re in for another one in Game 4. Our fans were there for us in Game 3 and we’re excited to get out and play for them and each other!” - Frost Head Coach Ken Klee
MONDAY’S GAME: The 2025 PWHL Finals, presented by Scotiabank, continues with a Memorial Day matinee in Minnesota. Frost fans are encouraged to wear purple to the game at Xcel Energy Center as part of the team’s “Pack it in Purple” initiative. Special playoff gear will be available in the Hockey Lodge located adjacent to Gate 1 of the arena and special food and drink options will be available throughout the concourse including hand-dipped corn dogs, dill tots and purple cotton candy. Fans will have opportunities to appear on the scoreboard screen as part of the game presentation. During the first period they’ll see the Great Clips ‘Hair Confidence Cam’ and e.l.f. ‘Dance Cam’, followed by the Woody Creek Distillers ‘Fan Cam’ and TRIA ‘Flex Cam’ in the second period, while third period highlights include the Air Canada ‘Sign Spotlight’ and Bread Financial ‘Fan of the Game’.
In addition to live broadcast coverage exclusively on TSN and RDS in Canada, the game will be available to fans in the U.S. on FanDuel Sports Network North, FanDuel Sports Network SoCal, FanDuel Sports Network Southwest, FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin Extra, MSGHD, NESN+, on various stations distributed in partnership with Gray Media (Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, Peachtree Sports Network, Rock Entertainment Sports Network, Palmetto Sports Network, Tennessee Valley Sports & Entertainment Network, Matrix Midwest, The Wax Sports, Cedar Rapids), Scripps Sports (Denver and Detroit), the Sinclair Broadcast Group (Baltimore and Portland), and globally on YouTube outside of Canada, Czechia and Slovakia. Internationally, the game will be distributed by NOVA Prime in Czechia and Slovakia.