PWHL New York is getting ready to take on PWHL Ottawa in what will be the second and last of two home games at the Prudential Center. Despite playing well, PWHL New York dropped its first game at âThe Rockâ 2-1 to PWHL Boston. In that game, Howie Draperâs team did not take a single penalty, were outshot 38-25, and lost narrowly 2-1.
Since that game, New York has lost two straight games, which brings their losing streak to three. Itâs dĂŠjĂ vu all over again as a month after ending their seven-game winless streak, PWHL New York is on a losing streak. Although New York has been eliminated from the playoffs, their games still will matter, though, as the Gold plan decrees that the PWHL draft order will be determined by how many points the teams who have been eliminated from this yearâs playoffs earn after being eliminated. This means that PWHL New York canât just give up on their season and may need to win at least one more game to hold onto first place in the draft order.
The last time New York played Ottawa, the Canadians shut the girls from the Big Apple out 3-0 on goals from three different players. The last two times New York has played Ottawa, theyâve given up three goals. What shall they expect when they meet up again?
This Game MATTERS
The Athletic's Hailey Salvian summarized the Gold Plan for the PWHL as such:
âIn the PWHL, once a team is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, it begins earning âdraft order pointsâ in all subsequent games using the leagueâs standard points system. The team with the most âdraft order pointsâ at the end of the regular season will be awarded the first overall pick in the draft. The second non-playoff team will have the second overall pick.â - The Athletic's Hailey Salvian
The situation for PWHL New York and their chances of getting the number one pick is as follows. There are two games left in their season and two teams who can also qualify for the number one pick: Boston and Ottawa. These two teams are tied with 32 standings points, which makes it hard to determine when either one will be eliminated from PWHL Playoff contention, but the answer is that the only way either one can be eliminated is when they have played their last game of the regular season.
New York has the ability to control its number-one pick destiny by beating Ottawa. If they beat Ottawa, they will have three draft order points. Ottawa or Boston (whichever ends up missing the playoffs) won't be able to match three draft-order points because they canât be eliminated until their seasons are over. On Tuesday, New York wonât just be playing out the string on a lost seasonâtheyâll be playing for the future of their club. What do they need to do better as a team in order to come out on top?
Score First
PWHL New Yorkâs season has proven that when they score first, they have more success. Over their last six games, PWHL New York scored first in one game, that was March 25 against Boston, and it's one of only four games they have won all season. During PWHL New Yorkâs previous game against first-place Toronto, they went down 2-0 after the first period of play. New York didnât score until the third period and, by that time, had no chance of coming back.
It will be important for PWHL New Yorkâs top players to lead the way when it comes to starting their next game off right. Alex Carpenter has gone 11 games without a goal but still leads New York with eight on the season. She is the catalyst for this offense and will need to be at the center of whatever push they make in the first period on Tuesday, along with other top forwards, Abby Roque and Jessie Eldridge.
Keep the Puck Out of their Own Net!
PWHL New York have surrendered 18 goals over their last five games and 11 over their last two. To be successful on Tuesday, they simply must play better defense in front of whoever is in the net. Odds are this game will see New Yorkâs number one goaltender, Corinne Schroeder, be between the pipes again after she sat the last game out.
Keeping the puck out of their net will not be easy because Ottawa have three players who rank top 15 in point scoring in the league this season. Those players are Brianne Jenner (19 points), Katerina Mrazova (17) and Daryl Watts (15). Last time Ottawa faced New York, Jenner and Mrazova each had two points and Watts added a goal. This is a game where New York needs to step up and find a way to limit the offense of their opponents. To do this they will lean on their leaders on the blueline, Micah Zandee Hart and Ella Shelton.
For New York, playing better defense involves playing harder in front of their net and winning more battles in their defensive zone. Watching the highlights of New Yorkâs previous loss against Toronto, New York allowed Toronto's Sarah Nurse to get a hat trick. On two of the three goals Nurse scored, she beat a New York defenseman to the puck or to space in front of the net.
Two goals wasn't enough for Nursey...
— x - PWHL Toronto (@PWHL_Toronto) April 28, 2024
Let's take a look at her hatty goal đ https://t.co/1d1eomDk3c pic.twitter.com/6vxsoHXKbu
These are avoidable goals that New York should be capable of avoiding as a professional team, and that comes down to effort. On Tuesday, Draper's team will have to match the other team's drive and intensity when defending in their own zone if they want to avoid giving up a lot of goals again.
It's very clear that New York has to play better defense if you look at the plus-minus ratings that their top three defensemen have put up recently. Jaime Bourbonnais was a -4 against Toronto and had zero points, Ella Shelton had an assist but was a -1, and Micah Zandee-Hart was a -2 in addition to being held off the scoresheet against the Canadians. One bright area on the backend for Draperâs team is that Brooke Hobson has points in each of her last two games. The downside is that these were Hobsonâs first two points of the season.
With just two games left in what has been a ruinous inaugural PWHL season for New York, the team from the Big Apple has one hurdle left to overcome. This is securing the number one pick in this off-season's draft. All they need to do is win one game but New York has won once in its last 11 games. Will they be able to overcome their demons? Watch tonight on MSG Networks to find out!
Be sure to check out JerseySportingNews.com all season long for more PWHL New York Coverage.
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