The Frost etched their name in hockey history Monday night, securing their second straight Professional Women's Hockey League championship with a heart-pounding 2-1 overtime victory over the Ottawa Charge. Forward Liz Schepers cemented her legacy as a playoff hero, burying a rebound at 12:00 of the extra period to ignite celebrations across Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center.
This decisive Game 4 capped a tension-filled finals where every matchup ended in 2-1 overtime thrillers. Minnesota clinched the Walter Cup with a 3-1 series advantage, repeating their 2024 inaugural season triumph in equally dramatic fashion.
The championship-clinching sequence began when Katy Knoll threaded a pass to Schepers in the slot. Ottawa's standout rookie netminder Gwyneth Philips denied the initial blast but couldn't contain the follow-up effort. The goal marked Schepers' second career title-winning tally, having also scored the Cup-clinching marker in last year's historic finale.
Between the pipes, Minnesota's Maddie Rooney delivered a 33-save masterclass, matching the PWHL's single-postseason wins record with five consecutive victories. Her counterpart Philips turned aside 36 shots in the loss, concluding a playoff run that earned her Ilana Kloss MVP honors. The first-year phenom finished the postseason with league-best marks in goals-against average (1.15) and save percentage (.954).
Minnesota struck first when Kelly Pannek converted a second-period rebound off assists from Claire Thompson and Grace Zumwinkle. The Charge answered in the third frame as Tereza Vanisova snapped her eight-game scoring drought, beating Rooney on her 33rd postseason shot attempt.
Overtime intensity peaked when both sides received coincidental roughing minors, creating open ice for Schepers' legacy-defining moment. The victory extended Minnesota's reputation as a clutch performers while handing Ottawa their first playoff series loss in franchise history.
With identical 2-1 overtime scorelines throughout the finals, the series reinforced the PWHL's reputation for parity and pressure-packed hockey. As the Frost raise their second championship banner, questions loom about whether any team can dethrone a roster that's perfected winning when stakes run highest.