Toronto knocked out of PWHL playoffs

In a thrilling matchup, Taylor Heise led Minnesota to a 4-1 victory over Toronto in the Professional Women’s Hockey League semifinal on Friday. Heise scored twice, including the game-winning goal in the third period, to secure the win for Minnesota, who came back from a 2-0 series deficit to win 3-2.

Denisa Krizova and Sophia Kunin also found the back of the net for Minnesota, while Maddie Rooney made 27 saves to help secure the victory. Toronto, who finished at the top of the standings, got a goal from Rebecca Leslie, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the determined Minnesota team.

The win sets up a final showdown between Minnesota and Boston in the Walter Cup final, which will be a best-of-five series starting on Sunday in Boston. Boston advanced to the final by sweeping Montreal 3-0 in the other semifinal matchup.

The game was not without its share of drama, as Toronto was missing star forward Natalie Spooner due to a season-ending knee injury suffered in Game 3. Despite Toronto’s early lead in the series, Minnesota fought back and ultimately came out on top.

With Heise’s impressive performance and Minnesota’s resilience, the stage is set for an exciting final between two talented teams. Fans can expect a hard-fought battle for the Walter Cup title as the top teams in the PWHL face off for the championship.