Kelly Pannek was the star of the night, recording four points for Minnesota. LPH Photo – Robert BrentKelly Pannek recorded four points in a 6-5 comeback win for the Frost. Minnesota clinched its third-straight playoff berth in the high-scoring affair.
The Minnesota Frost returned home to Grand Casino Arena for a Saturday matinee against the Vancouver Goldeneyes in their most recent matchup.
The last time the two teams played, Minnesota defeated the Goldeneyes 3-1 on March 21st. That game was the last game The Frost won before a three-game losing skid. That loosing streak included two regulation losses and one overtime defeat.
Saturday’s game against Vancouver gave Minnesota the chance to get back on the winning track and potentially lock up a playoff berth.
“Vancouver is a really good team, and we need to come out ready from the jump,” Hensley said. “We haven’t played a full 60 minutes in our last couple of games, and we will need to do that to be successful today.”
Recap
Vancouver got off to a great start, scoring the game’s opening goal at 1:18 of the first period. Sarah Nurse scored her fifth goal of the season on a redirect out front.
Minnesota answered about halfway through the opening frame after a net-front goal from Grace Zumwinkle. Zumwinkle’s 12th goal of the season came from a beautiful pass from Kelly Pannek, who found Zumwinkle with a no-look backhand pass from the side of the goal mouth.
Frost built their first lead of the night near the end of the period when Katy Knoll scored her seventh goal of the season. Knoll scored after a shot from Lee Stecklein leaked through the Goldeneyes’ netminder. Knoll tapped the puck in for her first point in 10 games.
Minnesota’s lead didn’t last long, with the Goldeneyes scoring seven seconds after Frost’s tally. Vancouver scored another goal just moments later to give Vancouver the 3-2 lead headed into the first intermission.
The Goldeneyes added to their lead at the beginning of the second period on a redirect in front of the net by Jenn Gardiner for her fourth goal of the season.
Mae Batherson scored at 12:07 to bring the Frost back to within a goal. Taylor Heise scored just moments later to tie the game on a power play. Those goals stood as the final scoring efforts of the period, setting up a decisive third frame with a 4-4 tie.
Kelly Pannek played the hero role in the third period, scoring twice on power plays to give the Frost a 6-4 lead. Vancouver’s Izzy Daniel scored with less than a minute left, but the Frost held on for an exciting 6-5 victory.
Key Takeaways
Frost Clinch Playoff Berth
With Saturday’s victory over the Vancouver Goldeneyes, the Frost clinched their third-straight PWHL playoff berth. As the two-time reigning Walter Cup champion, Minnesota is sure to be a threat to any team they face off with.
Minnesota joins the Boston Fleet and Montréal Victoire as teams that have already earned their spot in the PWHL playoffs. The Toronto Sceptres sit in the driver’s seat for the final playoff spot with 34 points. The Ottawa Charge are just behind them at 33 points, while the New York Sirens sit at 31 points.
Frost head coach Ken Klee spoke about Minnesota clinching their spot in the playoffs after Saturday’s game.
“In the beginning of the year, we talk about getting points, right? It’s a huge accomplishment for our whole group to say we’re going to be in the Walter Cup Playoffs again and give ourselves a chance. It’s nicer with five games left, that way we can clean up some small details,” Klee said. “We know we’ve got to keep building, keep playing well. We did some really good things tonight.
Kelly Pannek Nears History
Veteran forward Kelly Pannek continued her landmark season in the Frost’s game against Vancouver, registering four points. Pannek’s 13th and 14th goals gave her the lead in scoring, and the four points boosted her season total to a league-leading 28 points.
Pannek’s point total now stands as the greatest scoring season in Minnesota Frost history. Her mark surpasses Kendall Coyne Schofield’s previous total of 24 points set in the 2024-25 season. While the veteran center’s season is already the most productive in Minnesota Frost history, she now has her sights set on even loftier achievements.
With 28 points this season, Pannek now sits just one point behind the PWHL single-season record. The 29-point threshold has been reached only twice, once by Sarah Fillier and once by Hilary Knight. With five games remaining, it’s difficult to imagine Pannek won’t break that record and add to it as well.
Power Play Fuels Comeback
Minnesota’s penalty kill got a spotlight in their last game, killing off five extra-player chances on five opportunities. The power play got its time to shine in Saturday’s game. Halfway through the second period, Minnesota trailed Vancouver 4-3. The Frost scored three straight goals on the power play to give them a 6-4 lead.
The unit of Lee Stecklein, Kendall Cooper, Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Kelly Pannek combined for all three goals and continued a hot streak for Frost’s extra-attacker unit.
With the three successful power play chances, the team now sits at a 23.6% success rate. That rate is the best in the league by 3.9%.
