PWHL Preview: Boston @ Toronto

Boston at Toronto – 7:00 p.m. ET – Mattamy Athletic Centre
Watch on Linear TV: TSN, NESN, Sportsnet Pittsburgh, Womensports Network.
Streaming: YouTube

Boston last played on Saturday at home to Ottawa, where they won 2-1 in a shootout. They have a Points % of .431 and are in fourth place – the last playoff spot.

Toronto last played on Sunday in Pittsburgh as the away team vs Montréal. Toronto won by a score of 2-1. They have a Points % of .647 and are in first place.

Them

Boston made a trade on the Monday deadline, sending Shiann Darkangelo to Ottawa for Lexie Adzija and the signing rights to Caitrin Lonergan.

Adzija is the big name here. She's 23, and a former London Devilette, so I've been coveting her for Toronto. She would fit in fine with Toronto, and what she brings to Boston is size and scoring both. She's 5'10", listed at 163 lbs, and had five goals and three assists with Ottawa. A graduate of Quinnipac University, she is the magic age and got to step from school to pro hockey with no interruptions.

Adzija's eight points puts her in fourth place on the Boston roster, and she leads the team in goals. It's very odd to me that Ottawa, only one point behind Boston, would trade their best forward. Ottawa replaced her via a trade with Montréal, but count me as thinking Ottawa is throwing in the towel with this move.

Unfortunately for Toronto, this makes Boston better. Which is never a good thing.

Boston also signed Kelly Babstock and Lonergan to Reserve Player contracts. And they added Nicole Kosta to a 10-dy SPC. Babstock had been playing in Switzerland.

Us

Several teams beyond Boston added players. But Toronto has made no moves all season beyond activating Victoria Bach when she became available. The team is the team, their strengths are their strengths, and if they could get more joy on the power play, they'd be as tough to beat as Minnesota.

Brittany Howard is back from her suspension, and all Toronto needs to do is win this game to solidify their lead over Minnesota.

The Game

There are two games left for Toronto before the break for Worlds, this one and a Saturday afternoon contest in Ottawa. After the break, Toronto is on the road for three games before they finish with two at home. Keeping the win streak alive now will make that return to play on the road a lot easier.

Go Toronto Go!