PWHL Toronto picks Minnesota as 1st-round playoff opponent

PWHL Toronto has chosen fourth-place Minnesota as its first-round playoff opponent, the team announced on Monday evening.

That means second-place Montreal will take on third-seeded Boston in the other best-of-five semi-final series, with the winners of both facing off in another best-of-five series in pursuit of the first Walter Cup championship.

Toronto finished first overall in the six-team league over the regular season, earning the power to choose between playing the third or fourth seed. It's one of several unique rules the PWHL has adopted in its first season.

"It was definitely not an easy decision," Toronto GM Gina Kingsbury said. "There's no easy opponent in this league. We looked at all different angles."

That includes analytics, the health of the opposing teams, how they've played recently, and the impact of travel. Staff also consulted players.

"We know that we've got our work cut out for us against Minnesota," Toronto captain Blayre Turnbull said, pointing to the performance of Minnesota's goaltending tandem of Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney, and offensive threats like Kendall Coyne Schofield and Taylor Heise.

"They've got some star players who I'm sure are going to be really excited to face us, and they'll bring their best games in the playoffs," Turnbull said. "It's going to be a challenge but it's one that we're up for and one that we're excited to take on."

Toronto comes into the playoffs on a four-game winning streak that has been powered by Spooner and Sarah Nurse, who have scored a combined 15 points in the last four games. Spooner finished first in the league in both goals (20) and points (27) over the regular season.

After a rocky start in January, Toronto emerged as a defensive powerhouse thanks