The Minnesota Frost will advance to the PWHL finals after a 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Sceptres in Game 4 of the semifinals on Wednesday night.
Taylor Heise, last year’s playoff MVP, scored the game-winning goal 16 minutes into overtime, and captain Kendall Coyne Schofield led the way with two goals in regulation.
THE STATE OF HEISE IS BACK 🤯
Taylor Heise scores the OT game-winner and @PWHL_Minnesota advances to the Finals for the second time! pic.twitter.com/gQCJpuDEio
— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) May 15, 2025
The Frost entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed but – as the reigning champions – were still narrowly favored to win the series against the No. 2 Sceptres, according to Dom Luszczyszyn’s model, with a 21 percent chance at winning in four games.
Toronto won the first game of the series on home ice, but Minnesota won three-straight – including a wild 7-5 win in Game 3 on Sunday night – to take the best-of-five series 3-1. It’s the second consecutive year that the Frost have beaten Toronto in the semifinals to advance to the Finals.
Advertisement
Minnesota will await the winner of the Ottawa Charge-Montreal Victoire series, which Ottawa leads 2-1.
In the meantime, here’s some takeaways from Game 4.
Toronto’s goalie change
In her last two games of the series, Sceptres starter Kristen Campbell allowed 12 goals on 49 shots, with a 4.75 goals against average and .813 save percentage through the first round of the playoffs.
So, with their season on the line, head coach Troy Ryan made a big change, starting Carly ‘CJ’ Jackson, who is typically Toronto’s No. 3 goalie. With backup Raygan Kirk on long-term injury reserve and Campbell struggling, Jackson was pushed into a pressure cooker.
In the first period, Toronto did a nice job keeping Minnesota to the perimeter. The Frost only had six shots in the frame and Jackson stopped them all. In the second, Minnesota only managed four shots, but did well to get to the net-front and make Jackson’s job harder despite the lighter workload.
First, Coyne Schofield getting her stick on a ripped shot by Heise only 14 seconds after Toronto made it 2-0. Then Kelly Pannek got in front of Jackson for a tip off a Brooke McQuigge shot. With two goals on four shots, Minnesota had life heading into the third period.
Starting a seldom-used goalie over his starter was a risky move by Ryan. Jackson had only started one game in two years in the PWHL: a 2-1 shootout win versus the New York Sirens on April 29. And while they did well for most of the game, Toronto’s goaltending struggles were put into perspective when, at the other end of the ice, Minnesota coach Ken Klee was able to tap Nicole Hensley after Maddie Rooney’s tough game (five goals on 23 shots) on Sunday.
Hensley, by the way, made 26 saves on 29 shots on Wednesday night, including several big stops late in the game and throughout overtime.
Coyne Schofield delivers
No player was better at five-on-five in the regular season than Coyne Schofield and she put that on display in Game 4, with two even-strength goals at critical points of the night.
Her first goal effectively halted Toronto’s momentum in the second period. Then she buried a rebound to make it 3-3 midway through the third period to ultimately force overtime.
Cap with her second goal of the night! https://t.co/XSIunE1lAw pic.twitter.com/wg5ggzGyAV
— x – Minnesota Frost (@PWHL_Minnesota) May 15, 2025
Last season, Coyne Schofield was still making her return to elite hockey after giving birth to her son, Drew, and only scored one goal in 10 games during the postseason – an empty netter in the final game.
This year, Coyne Schofield was once again one of the very best — and most productive – players in the game, finishing fifth in points. Nobody in the league had more even-strength points than her 22.
That, along with the additions to Minnesota’s roster this year, makes the Frost a scary opponent in the finals once again.
Gosling’s rookie impact
It wasn’t a particularly eventful rookie season for Julia Gosling – she scored four goals and 10 points in 30 games, mostly in the second half of the season – but she was a key contributor in the postseason, showing exactly why Toronto drafted her No. 6 at the 2024 draft in June.
On Wednesday night, Gosling opened the scoring with a nice forehand-backhand move to beat Hensley 5:28 into the game. It was her third of the postseason, and maybe more impressively, her second five-on-five goal of the series after only scoring on the power play in the regular season.
THAT PASS FROM WOODSY TO FIND JULES 😮💨 https://t.co/z87bn0tA2w pic.twitter.com/JjCTqGMLdi
— x – Toronto Sceptres (@PWHL_Toronto) May 14, 2025
It might have taken Gosling some time to find her game as a rookie in the PWHL, but she’s certainly found another level when it matters most. The question remains: will she be on the Sceptres next season, or become a foundational player for one of the league’s newest franchises?
(Photo: Steven Garcia / Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
QB Caleb Williams and family tried to avoid being drafted by the Bears, new book reveals
Caleb Williams and his family openly expressed concern over the quarterback going to Chicago before the Bears drafted him in 2024, according to a new book.Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb's father, Carl Williams, told ESPN's Seth Wickersham, author of "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," of their lack of interest in the Windy City.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," Carl said.Caleb also saw a bad fit in Chicago, saying, "Do I want to go there? I don't think I can do it with [former Bears offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron."The Bears selected Williams with the No. 1 pick, and the Bears ended up firing Shane Waldron in November before firing head coach Matt Eberflus.This breaking news story will be updated.
Free MLB picks, predictions, props, bets on Thursday, May 15: This three-leg baseball parlay pays over 7-1
Imagn Images The Thursday MLB schedule is light with only six games on the slate. One of the most notable matchups of the day is Rangers vs. Astros in a rivalry game at 8:05 p.m. ET. This game projects to be a pitching duel with Hunter Brown (6-1, 1.48 ERA, 0.90 WHIP) starting for Houston and Jacob deGrom (3-1, 2.72 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) on the mound for the Rangers. The rubber match of this series will be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington.The Rangers are -131 favorites (risk $131 to win $100) on the money line, while the over/under is 7 runs in the latest MLB odds for Thursday. Should you back the Astros or Rangers when making MLB picks on Thursday? Before making any MLB picks or building any MLB parlay cards, you'll want to see the MLB […]
San Francisco 49ers to sell minority stake in team to trio of local families
The San Francisco 49ers are in the process of selling 6.2 percent of the team to a trio of Bay Area families, according to a league source familiar with the proposal.The York family, who own the 49ers, would sell 3.1 percent to the Khosla family, 2.1 percent to the Deeter family and 1 percent to William Griffith.AdvertisementThe league’s finance committee has recommended approval of the transactions at next week’s NFL owners meeting in Minnesota.Vinod Khosla, 70, was the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and is currently the managing director of Khosla Ventures out of Menlo Park.Byron Deeter, 50, is a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, which has offices in San Francisco and Redwood City. Deeter graduated from UC Berkeley, where he played rugby.Griffith, 53, is a partner at ICONIQ Capital in San Francisco. He played football at Dartmouth and earned an MBA […]
Lewis Hamilton’s father set for FIA role in young driver development
Lewis Hamilton’s father is set to be appointed into an official role with Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, to help the development of young drivers.Anthony Hamilton was heavily involved in his son’s career through his rise to F1, and served as Lewis’s manager during his early years on the grid before taking a step back in 2010.AdvertisementHe has remained a regular presence in the F1 paddock, and was praised for consoling Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar after the youngster crashed on the formation lap ahead of his F1 debut in Australia in March.But it has now emerged that Hamilton is set to be appointed into an official FIA role after serving as an advisor for a group dedicated to assist the development of young drivers for the past 18 months.First reported by The Times and since confirmed to The Athletic by an FIA spokesperson, Hamilton […]
Travis Kelce lost 25 pounds this offseason, but gave up more than just weight
Travis Kelce didn't take the offseason lightly - literally. After a tough Super Bowl loss in February, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end quietly launched into what may be his most disciplined summer yet, dropping 25 pounds and overhauling his lifestyle as he eyes what could be his final NFL season.The 35-year-old has always played with intensity, but those close to him say this year is different. "Travis plans to be in the best shape of his life," a source told Daily Mail."This could be his last season, and he wants to go out like a man possessed."Travis Kelce shows off dramatic weight loss at Amazon eventThat mission has come with sacrifices - and not just in the gym. Gone are the wild post-game celebrations, the cocktails, and even Taylor Swift's legendary baked treats. Yes, even the pop tarts.No booze, […]
Burn that jersey. Plus, worst Maple Leafs loss of the Core 4 era?
Red Light newsletter 🏒 | This is The Athletic’s hockey newsletter. Sign up here to receive Red Light directly in your inbox.Good morning to everyone except people who wear fluorescent jackets and sit right behind the goal. Once you notice them, you can’t unsee them for the rest of the game.While You Were SleepingOh, you were sleeping last night? Cool, I didn’t know you played for the Maple Leafs. Wakey wakey, let’s find out if you missed anything important. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)Oilers eliminate Golden KnightsWe have our first conference finalist, with Edmonton going into Vegas and ending the series with a 1-0 OT win. Here’s Kasperi Kapanen’s winner, which won’t win any beauty contests but got the job done. KASPARI KAPANEN CALLS GAME FOR THE OILERS pic.twitter.com/6wzdeGBASk — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 15, 2025It’s a win that doesn’t follow the usual Oilers script. There […]
Related
QB Caleb Williams and family tried to avoid being drafted by the Bears, new book reveals
Caleb Williams and his family openly expressed concern over the quarterback going to Chicago before the Bears drafted him in 2024, according to a new book.Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb's father, Carl Williams, told ESPN's Seth Wickersham, author of "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," of their lack of interest in the Windy City.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," Carl said.Caleb also saw a bad fit in Chicago, saying, "Do I want to go there? I don't think I can do it with [former Bears offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron."The Bears selected Williams with the No. 1 pick, and the Bears ended up firing Shane Waldron in November before firing head coach Matt Eberflus.This breaking news story will be updated.
Free MLB picks, predictions, props, bets on Thursday, May 15: This three-leg baseball parlay pays over 7-1
Imagn Images The Thursday MLB schedule is light with only six games on the slate. One of the most notable matchups of the day is Rangers vs. Astros in a rivalry game at 8:05 p.m. ET. This game projects to be a pitching duel with Hunter Brown (6-1, 1.48 ERA, 0.90 WHIP) starting for Houston and Jacob deGrom (3-1, 2.72 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) on the mound for the Rangers. The rubber match of this series will be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington.The Rangers are -131 favorites (risk $131 to win $100) on the money line, while the over/under is 7 runs in the latest MLB odds for Thursday. Should you back the Astros or Rangers when making MLB picks on Thursday? Before making any MLB picks or building any MLB parlay cards, you'll want to see the MLB […]
San Francisco 49ers to sell minority stake in team to trio of local families
The San Francisco 49ers are in the process of selling 6.2 percent of the team to a trio of Bay Area families, according to a league source familiar with the proposal.The York family, who own the 49ers, would sell 3.1 percent to the Khosla family, 2.1 percent to the Deeter family and 1 percent to William Griffith.AdvertisementThe league’s finance committee has recommended approval of the transactions at next week’s NFL owners meeting in Minnesota.Vinod Khosla, 70, was the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and is currently the managing director of Khosla Ventures out of Menlo Park.Byron Deeter, 50, is a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, which has offices in San Francisco and Redwood City. Deeter graduated from UC Berkeley, where he played rugby.Griffith, 53, is a partner at ICONIQ Capital in San Francisco. He played football at Dartmouth and earned an MBA […]
Lewis Hamilton’s father set for FIA role in young driver development
Lewis Hamilton’s father is set to be appointed into an official role with Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, to help the development of young drivers.Anthony Hamilton was heavily involved in his son’s career through his rise to F1, and served as Lewis’s manager during his early years on the grid before taking a step back in 2010.AdvertisementHe has remained a regular presence in the F1 paddock, and was praised for consoling Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar after the youngster crashed on the formation lap ahead of his F1 debut in Australia in March.But it has now emerged that Hamilton is set to be appointed into an official FIA role after serving as an advisor for a group dedicated to assist the development of young drivers for the past 18 months.First reported by The Times and since confirmed to The Athletic by an FIA spokesperson, Hamilton […]
Travis Kelce lost 25 pounds this offseason, but gave up more than just weight
Travis Kelce didn't take the offseason lightly - literally. After a tough Super Bowl loss in February, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end quietly launched into what may be his most disciplined summer yet, dropping 25 pounds and overhauling his lifestyle as he eyes what could be his final NFL season.The 35-year-old has always played with intensity, but those close to him say this year is different. "Travis plans to be in the best shape of his life," a source told Daily Mail."This could be his last season, and he wants to go out like a man possessed."Travis Kelce shows off dramatic weight loss at Amazon eventThat mission has come with sacrifices - and not just in the gym. Gone are the wild post-game celebrations, the cocktails, and even Taylor Swift's legendary baked treats. Yes, even the pop tarts.No booze, […]
Burn that jersey. Plus, worst Maple Leafs loss of the Core 4 era?
Red Light newsletter 🏒 | This is The Athletic’s hockey newsletter. Sign up here to receive Red Light directly in your inbox.Good morning to everyone except people who wear fluorescent jackets and sit right behind the goal. Once you notice them, you can’t unsee them for the rest of the game.While You Were SleepingOh, you were sleeping last night? Cool, I didn’t know you played for the Maple Leafs. Wakey wakey, let’s find out if you missed anything important. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)Oilers eliminate Golden KnightsWe have our first conference finalist, with Edmonton going into Vegas and ending the series with a 1-0 OT win. Here’s Kasperi Kapanen’s winner, which won’t win any beauty contests but got the job done. KASPARI KAPANEN CALLS GAME FOR THE OILERS pic.twitter.com/6wzdeGBASk — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 15, 2025It’s a win that doesn’t follow the usual Oilers script. There […]
Be the first to leave a comment