Pannek scores twice, Hensley makes 30 saves in 3-0 win

by Robert, Brent, Let’s Play Hockey

The Minnesota Frost have taken part in some of the PWHL’s most notable events in the league’s short history. The team competed in and won the first two league championships and has been part of three of the four most-attended games in PWHL history. 

Minnesota continued making history Friday afternoon when they took on the Seattle Torrent in the new franchise’s home opener at Climate Pledge Arena. The game was played in front of 16,014 fans, a record-breaking crowd for a women’s hockey game played in the United States.

The matchup was the first of a three-game road trip for the Frost after they dropped their home opener on November 21st. Head coach Ken Klee reflected on the chance to play an eventful matchup and build on the start to their season.

“I felt like we had some good chances against Toronto, and it’s the kind of game we can build on. This road trip is a chance for our team to come together,” Klee said. “We’re excited to be a part of a special day in Seattle. We know we need to keep getting better and be a little sharper on our details and habits to get points in our league.”

Recap

Nicole Hensley started in net for the Frost while the Torrent countered with Corinne Schroeder. Hensley was making her first appearance for Minnesota this season after Maddie Rooney took the duties in net for the home opener.

Both goaltenders were up to the task early, with the Frost and Torrent playing a free-flowing, open style that led to few stoppages in play. Seattle carried play early on, outshooting the Frost in the game’s opening minutes.

Minnesota settled in towards the end of the period with eight of the frame’s last 11 shots coming from the Frost.

The offensive push resulted in the first goal of the game when Kelly Pannek scored her first goal of the season. Kendall Coyne Schofield and Britta Curl-Salemme added assists on the play. The Pannek, Coyne-Schofield and Curl-Salemme line scored the lone goal in the Frost’s first game.

The second period was less eventful, with Minnesota getting a few high-quality scoring chances on two power-play opportunities. 

Neither team broke through, with a one-goal lead holding for Minnesota heading into the third period. Minnesota held the advantage in shots, leading 14-12 at the end of the second frame. 

The third period continued similarly to the previous stanza, with both teams struggling to find another goal. Kelly Pannek changed that trend with her second goal of the night about halfway through the period.

Pannek scored after Britta Curl-Salemme caused a turnover in the neutral zone and forwarded the puck to Pannek. Pannek had an abbreviated breakaway and picked her spot in the top corner with a shot from the hashmarks nearest to the goaltender.

The Frost iced the game a few minutes later after earning a power-play opportunity when Seattle’s Julia Gosling was called for hooking.

Grace Zumwinkle scored a goal on a net-front scramble to tally her first marker of the season. The goal was assisted by Abby Hustler, who scored her first career PWHL point. Hustler is the first player in the PWHL from Prince Edward Island.

The Minnesota defense locked things down for the rest of the game to preserve the 3-0 score to spoil the Torrent’s home opener. The win was a great start to the road trip before the Frost arrive in Ottawa for a showdown with the Charge on December 2nd.

Key Takeaways

Hensley Backstops Frost to First Win

Nicole Hensley made her first start of the season and came away with an impressive game. The Lindenwood alum made 30 saves in her third-career shutout. Her 30 saves are the most she’s ever made in a shutout effort.

Hensley is a key member of the roster, having helped backstop the Frost to back-to-back championships. The goaltender spoke after the game about how that championship pedigree runs deep for the team and fueled their response to the season-opening loss.

“I think that’s the definition of a competitor. I think we want to win every single night, obviously wanting to bounce back after a night one [loss],” Hensley said. “We know it’s a long season and we try to stack points on top of each other so, yeah, I think that’s just being a competitor.”

New-Look Defense Shines for Minnesota

Ken Klee kept his offensive lines mostly intact from game one, but the backend saw a bit more tinkering.

Natalie Buchbinder joined Lee Stecklein on the top pairing after Kendall Cooper slotted in that spot in the last game. The second pairing of Sidney Morin and Mae Batherson remained steady, while the third pairing featured a new look. Rookies Kendall Cooper and Brooke Becker suited up for the Frost, with Becker making her PWHL debut.

The new-look defensive unit has been excellent for The Frost thus far, giving up just two goals in the team’s first two games. Strong team defense played a key role in Frost’s win over the Torrent and will remain valuable for Minnesota.

Expect changes to continue on the Frost blueline as the team figures out where to slot in new pieces. Minnesota’s defense saw more turnover than any part of the roster over the offseason, with four defenders who played more than 20 games departing. Still, Minnesota’s revamped blueline has served them well thus far.

Kelly Pannek is a Steady Force for Frost

Minnesota is a club packed with veteran presence and winning DNA, but one of the most crucial parts to their success is the steady play of Kelly Pannek. Pannek has been a vital part of the team’s success since its inception. She blends a defensive mindset with high hockey IQ while contributing offensively. 

If the early season is any indication, Pannek should be one of the Frost’s strongest players once again. The Minnesota alum scored twice in the win over the Torrent and registered an assist in the team’s first game.Her line with Coyne Schofield and Curl-Salemme has dominated at five-on-five this season, with the trio being responsible for all three of Frost’s regular-strength goals so far this season. 

Pannek, the team’s alternate captain, has an impact far beyond her scoring as well. The two-time Olympian is one of the team’s strongest defensive forwards and is also incredibly effective in the faceoff dot. The Plymouth, MN native has won 14 faceoffs in 26 opportunities so far this season after winning 57% of her draws last season.