Minnesota Wins First-Ever Walter Cup

Minnesota's Kendall Coyne Schofield scored an empty-net goal to seal the team's first Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) title over Boston 3-0 in the deciding fifth game.

Minnesota won the best-of-five series 3-2 after thinking they’d won it back on home ice at the Xcel Energy Center — at least for a few minutes before Sophie Jaques’ double-overtime goal was called back due to goaltender interference. Alina Müller scored to force a fifth and final game in dramatic fashion, but Minnesota still came out on top to win the Walter Cup.

The Walter Cup is named after billionaire Mark Walter who is the sole investor of the PWHL and who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Click here to watch Game 5 highlights.

Minnesota entered the playoffs as the lowest seed (4) and on a five-game losing skid to end the regular season. The team was on the brink of elimination against Toronto, which got out to a 2-0 series lead, but won three-straight games to advance to the Finals and upset the top-ranked team in the league.

Teams in the PWHL currently do not have nicknames or mascots.

PWHL Review

Final Regular Season Standings:

W: Regulation Wins

OTW: Overtime Wins

OTL: Overtime Losses

L: Regulation Losses

1. Toronto (13-4-0-7 47 pts)
2. Montreal (10-3-5-6 41 pts)
3. Boston (8-4-3-9 35 pts)
4. Minnesota (8-4-3-9 35 pts)
5. Ottawa (8-1-6-9 32 pts)
6. New York (5-4-3-12 26 pts)

Playoffs:

Semifinals

Minnesota defeated Toronto 0-4, 0-2, 2-0, 1-0(2 ot), 4-1

Boston defeated Montreal 2-1(ot), 2-1(3 ot), 3-2(ot)

Walter Cup Final

Minnesota defeated Boston 3-4, 3-0, 4-1, 0-1 (2 ot), 3-0

For more on the PWHL:  PWHL - Professional Women's Hockey League (thepwhl.com)