Minnesota blanks Boston to become PWHL's 1st-ever Walter Cup champion

Kendall Coyne Schofield once showed off her speed racing against the men in an NHL skills competition at All-Star weekend.

On Wednesday night, she made a mad dash into women's hockey history.

The three-time Olympian chased down a rolling puck and knocked it into an empty net to seal Minnesota's 3-0 victory over Boston in the winner-take-all Game 5 to claim the inaugural championship of the Professional Women's Hockey League.

Liz Schepers scored to break a scoreless, second-period tie, Michela Cava made it 2-0 midway through the third period and Nicole Hensley stopped 17 shots for Minnesota. Coyne Schofield added the empty netter with two minutes left, and then the captain and oldest member of the roster took the first lap on the ice with the Walter Cup.

"It makes me want to tear up thinking about it. She's done so much for this sport," said forward Taylor Heise, who was named the playoff MVP. "She's definitely one of the people that's helped this sport grow and one of the reasons why this arena is sold out here tonight."

WATCH | Minnesota beats Boston in Game 5 to claim Walter Cup:

Three nights after prematurely celebrating a would-be game-winner in double overtime that was waved off for goaltender interference, Hensley earned her second shutout of the playoffs. The two-time Olympian from Colorado had posted one in 14 games during the regular season, when Minnesota limped into the playoffs on a seven-game losing streak.

"We're `the State of Hockey,"' said Heise, who was the league's No. 1 overall draft pick. "And I think this proves it."

Boston forced a decisive fifth game only after Sophie Jaques' apparent goal in double overtime in Game 4 was taken off the board because of goaltender interference. The Minnesota