
Mrázová nets OT winner to lift Charge past Sceptres 2-1, clinch PWHL playoff berth
TORONTO - Kateřina Mrázová scored 2:52 into overtime to lift the Ottawa Charge to a 2-1 regular-season finale win over the Toronto Sceptres and a playoff berth Saturday in the Professional Women's Hockey League.
Brianne Jenner also scored for Ottawa (12-2-4-12). Gwyneth Philips stopped 13 shots.
The Charge came in needing a win of any kind, or a Minnesota loss against Boston later Saturday, to secure their first post-season appearance in the PWHL. Ottawa lost 5-2 to Toronto in the regular-season finale last season needing a regulation win to secure a playoff spot.
Ottawa lost 3-0 to Minnesota on Wednesday with a chance to move six or seven points ahead of the Frost — with either an overtime/shootout win or a regulation win — and clinch a playoff spot.
Sarah Nurse scored for Toronto (12-3-6-9). Kristen Campbell made 22 saves, while becoming the fourth PWHL goaltender to reach 1,000 career regular-season saves.
The Sceptres entered the day with a chance to steal first place from Montreal with a win and a New York regulation win over Montreal later Saturday. The top-seeded team entering the post-season gets its choice of opponent for the best-of-five semifinal series.
Both teams already secured playoff spots, with Toronto opening the post-season Wednesday and Montreal on Thursday. Their opponents will be determined Sunday.
Takeaways
Sceptres: Toronto struggled to get shots on net against the Charge, sometimes settling for shots from the point instead of inching closer into the offensive zone to potentially get a better opportunity. It's the seventh in nine games since the start of March that Toronto has been unable to score more than two goals in a game.
Charge: Ottawa had more offensive volume with shots on net, but didn't have many threatening chances either in regulation. The Charge outshot Toronto 24-14, with the second period count being 11-4 in favour of Ottawa. The Charge showed more urgency in overtime, however.
Key moment
Mrázová cut across in front in the slot and whipped it past Campbell to the delight of the Charge fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Key stat
Since the February international break, the Charge are 7-1-2-4, the league's second-best record behind the Sceptres (7-3-1-3) entering Saturday. The Ottawa offence has been leading the way in that span averaging 3.00 goals per game. Ottawa averaged 1.80 goals per game before Feb. 11, fewest in the PWHL.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2025.

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New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Free agent stock watch: How the NHL playoffs helped or hindered 10 players' outlooks
As much as a player can make an impact in the regular season, the playoffs are where legends are built. Players who thrive in the intensity and pressure of the Stanley Cup Playoffs often can write their ticket after, and those who wilt under the spotlight face questions until they prove otherwise. Sometimes a player's stock doesn't change based on the playoffs. Corey Perry's next contract probably won't be influenced by what he is doing in Edmonton; realistically, most general managers interested in signing him will seek a low-risk, inexpensive contract with bonuses at this point in his career. Mikael Granlund's glow-up in San Jose and regular-season play in Dallas probably hold more weight than his playoffs, too. Advertisement But with free agency taking place just a couple of weeks after the postseason, recency bias can creep into player evaluations. It will likely fuel interest in Sam Bennett and raise more red flags for Mitch Marner. So with the playoffs winding down and the offseason approaching, here's a look at 10 pending unrestricted free agents who may have seen their stock change this postseason. Stock down 📉 The spotlight was always going to be on Marner this postseason. It comes with the territory of playing in Toronto, where the pressure is mounting for the team to turn regular-season success into a deep playoff run. It also comes with a $10.9 million cap hit, an expiring contract and a history of wilting under playoff pressure. While Marner had standout flashes this postseason, he didn't meet the moment enough. Despite some highs, the lasting impression is what happened in some losing efforts: defensive lapses in Game 5, which pushed the Leafs to the brink of elimination, and a disappointing Game 7, where he was held scoreless and earned a minus-0.32 Game Score. THAT'S THREE UNANSWERED ‼️ Jesper Boqvist finishes off a Sam Reinhart feed to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead in Game 5 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 15, 2025 The Maple Leafs' elimination doesn't fall solely on his shoulders. Other stars faded and the scoring depth seriously lacked. Still, as much as he contributed, Marner didn't rise to the occasion enough when it mattered most. That might stop some contenders from handing him a blank check, despite being one of the few elite players to reach free agency in a rising cap world. But there will be teams desperate for a player of his caliber, willing to spend $13 million-plus with those playoff demons. And there might be some hope that he can be clutch outside of Toronto, like he was for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Advertisement Stock up 📈 There have been two prevailing narratives throughout Ehlers' career: he is underutilized in the regular season and doesn't make enough of an impact in the playoffs. At his best, Ehlers is one of the Jets' top offensive threats between his play-driving and creativity in transition despite his usage. At his worst, he struggles in a playoff environment, which knocked him down to 5A in this year's Player Tiers, with team executives raising red flags about his postseason play. That finally changed this year, as Ehlers raised his game when the pressure was the highest. Just take his gutsy cross-ice pass in the dying moments of Game 7 that helped keep the Jets' season alive. Or his two multi-goal games against the Stars to help the Jets make a Round 2 push. After missing the first five games with injury, Ehlers ended the postseason with five goals and seven points in eight games, after only netting four goals and 14 points in his previous 37 playoff games. There was always going to be interest in Ehlers this summer, as one of the few first-line-caliber forwards set to hit free agency. But his postseason improvement, after another strong regular season, should pump up his value even more. Stock up 📈 Bennett's regular-season resume isn't anything special — he's only hit the 50-point mark once in his career — but his clutch play in high-stakes games, divisive physicality and championship pedigree are perfectly built for playoff hockey. The hard-nosed 28-year-old center leads all players with 14 playoff goals this year, not to mention his strong showing for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Bennett's net-front scoring and gray-area shenanigans have drawn the most attention, but his hands and playmaking are an underrated part of his game, too. He's led crafty zone entries and made skilled passes off the rush in high-traffic areas. The Panthers have controlled over 57 percent of scoring chances and goals during Bennett's five-on-five shifts during these playoffs. Advertisement Overall, Bennett has scored 26 goals and 48 points in 59 playoff games over the last three years. In other words, the sample size of his elevating in big moments is large enough that it can't be chalked up to a fluke or coincidence — he's earned his label as a clutch playoff performer. Couple that with how weak the free-agent center pool is, and Bennett is in a prime position to command the contract of his life if he decides to hit the July 1 market. Stock neutral 📍 It's easy to argue that Tavares' value should be lower after his postseason. There is a death-by-association element of being a part of the Maple Leafs' Core Four that once again fell short. And there is the fact that he underwhelmed on the scoresheet after a resurgent regular season. Tavares scored at a rate of 3.25 points per 60 in the regular season, which instilled some confidence in Toronto having more secondary scoring in the playoffs. But his pace slowed to 1.74 points per 60 in 13 playoff games, mostly due to dips at five-on-five. All of that could tank his value. But there are a few reasons why his stock stayed neutral after another disappointing finish. The reality is that the Leafs' problems are bigger than just Tavares, and more of the focus is on Marner and Matthews, who are expected to be The Guys, unlike the veteran at this point in his career. Plus, those 13 games don't wipe out an impressive regular season for the 34-year-old, who is aging gracefully (and has encouraging comparables like Sidney Crosby and Joe Pavelski at this point in his career). Pair all of that with a shallow center market behind Bennett, and it neutralizes the bad with good to steady his value. Stock neutral 📍 In slightly different circumstances, Ekblad would easily be considered a stock-up player. After all, the 6-foot-4 right-shot defender has soaked up nearly 24 minutes per game and handled tough defensive matchups en route to his third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. Advertisement Ekblad has scored 12 points in 16 games, and the Panthers have controlled 57 percent of shot attempts and owned a plus-four goal differential during his five-on-five minutes. He hasn't been perfect — he'll occasionally get caught out of position up the ice because of his slow foot speed — but he's again excelled playing in a high-leverage top-four role on an elite team. Another valuable playoff performance like this reinforces that Ekblad is worth a lucrative contract if he reaches free agency, but his market value likely isn't inflating by a massive degree for a couple of reasons. Ekblad's positive test for a performance-enhancing substance in March, which landed him a 20-game suspension, could give some teams a reason to pause. The 29-year-old's durability must also be a concern — he has missed nearly 30 percent of Florida's regular-season games over the last five years. Stock up 📈 Marchand's days as a top offensive driver seemed numbered before the playoffs started. He scored just 51 points in the regular season, his lowest output in a decade. It would have been easy to look at that decline, his age (37) and his slow start with the Panthers down the stretch as signs of caution. The diminutive, scrappy left winger has poured cold water on those potential concerns with an excellent playoff run. Marchand has scored eight goals and 18 points in 20 games, which is very impressive considering he doesn't get top power-play time. The 14 points he's scored at five-on-five are third-best in the playoffs behind only Connor McDavid and teammate Eetu Luostarinen. He's looked rejuvenated on the Panthers' elite third line with Luostarinen and Anton Lundell. They're relentless on the forecheck, using their pace, energy and competitiveness to win battles, control play and drive offense. GUESS WHO 😳 BRAD MARCHAND OPENS THE SCORING IN GAME 3! #StanleyCup 🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ — NHL (@NHL) June 10, 2025 With Marchand on the ice, the Panthers have controlled 58.3 percent of expected goals and outscored teams by a ridiculous 18-5 margin at five-on-five. He's been excellent on Florida's penalty kill, too. Marchand is proving that he's still got plenty of game left in his late 30s. Stock down 📉 Expectations were high for Duchene heading into the playoffs. He had been a dynamic, play-driving beast all year, scoring a team-high 82 points in the regular season. Duchene's line was flat-out one of the best second lines in the NHL. Advertisement However, for a second consecutive year, Duchene was a major letdown in the playoffs, slumping to just a single goal and five assists in 18 games. Remarkably, he didn't register a single even-strength point. Duchene's individual shot rate at five-on-five fell by around 33 percent compared to the regular season. He was involved in some defensive breakdowns, with the Stars outscored 8-3 during his five-on-five minutes in the postseason. Bad luck is part of the story — Duchene's line generated a healthy 3.54 expected goals per 60 and scored on less than 3 percent of their shots — but there isn't a lot of solace to be taken from that considering he produced just two goals and six points in 19 games during last year's run to the Western Conference final as well. Duchene is still well-positioned to cash in on a lucrative contract because of his tremendous regular-season success and the weak UFA center market, but a second consecutive playoff failure raises questions about how well his play translates to the postseason when time and space are harder to come by. Stock down 📉 In 18 playoff games, Benn only netted one goal and three points and scored at an all-situations rate of 0.76 points per 60. That is a major drop from his regular-season production (2.4 points per 60) and his last two postseasons (2.76 in 2024, 2.38 in 2023). The Stars only shot 4.71 percent at five-on-five in Benn's minutes, which explains the difference between expectations (3.23 xGF/60) and reality (1.10 GF/60). But he was one of the driving forces behind those finishing woes. His defense in tough minutes was lacking and contributed to the team getting outscored 13-4 with him deployed. After revitalizing his game as a reliable third-line contributor over the last couple of years, the Benn-aissance seems to be over in Dallas. He was always in for a pay cut after his $9.5 million cap hit expired, but it could be more severe after this postseason. Evolving-Hockey projects a two-year, $4.44 million extension, but that could be a little too rich for someone who looks like a bottom-six staple at this point in his career. Stock up 📈 Heading into the playoffs, the Oilers had a glaring weakness: secondary scoring. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl both hit the 100-point mark, but no other forward hit the 50-point threshold. While those two are still (unsurprisingly) leading the way this postseason, they have depth support. Advertisement That was especially clear in Round 1, when players like Brown stepped up with three goals and five points in six games. While he's only notched another three points since, he has been valuable. Brown has added an element of speed to the bottom six, disrupted opponents and helped limit opponents like Tomas Hertl along the way. Brown realistically isn't in for a massive raise this summer from his current $1 million cap hit. But his postseason play is a reminder of what he can bring to a lineup as a utility forward when he is fully back up to speed. It was just last year that Brown took 55 games to notch a single goal after returning from a torn ACL. Now he is providing much-needed support in the Stanley Cup Final on a budget, which should attract general managers. Stock up 📈 It was fair to wonder how effective Klingberg would be when the Oilers signed him to a one-year deal in January. Klingberg hadn't played an NHL game in 14 months after undergoing a serious resurfacing surgery on both of his hips. His play, especially defensively, had rapidly deteriorated in recent seasons. He was borderline unplayable in 14 games for the Leafs in 2023-24 before the surgery, and his 2022-23 campaign, split between the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild, was a disappointment too. With all that in mind, it would have been a win if Klingberg were simply a helpful No. 6 defenseman. Instead, he's shattered expectations by performing well in top-four usage. Klingberg isn't as dynamic as his prime (four points in 18 games) and his defensive play can still be shaky at times, but his slick puck-moving has been a major asset. It's very meaningful, and frankly surprising, that he's providing legitimate value in a high-leverage role rather than requiring sheltering. That's going to get him paid a nice sum in free agency, especially since right-handed puck movers are always in demand. — Data via Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick, HockeyStatCards and CapWages (Top photo of Connor Brown and Sam Bennett: Perry Nelson / Imagn Images)


New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Mitch Marner's next contract and the burden of expectations
There is an interesting psychological phenomenon in sports fandom where satisfaction often hinges on expectations rather than actual performance. In a hard cap world where the dollar figure attached to a player is of the utmost importance, that experience can be put in overdrive. It's the burden of expectations and Mitch Marner might be hockey's best current example. Advertisement Here's an example of what that means. Take two players: Player A is a fourth-liner and Player B is an elite player. Over a seven-game stretch, Player A looks like a third-liner and Player B looks like a first-liner — who are fans happier with? Nine times out of 10, even if Player B was unquestionably better than Player A, fans are often happier with Player A because he played better than expected. It's the feeling of surprise vs. disappointment that often supersedes the actual performance difference between the two. With that in mind, I have some empathy for the way Marner's playoff performances with the Toronto Maple Leafs have been viewed. That's in the sense that he generally has been one of the team's best players each playoffs, but he just hasn't been his usual level of good — especially offensively. There is a substantial drop-off in his playoff offensive rating vs. his expectations — one of the league's 10 worst 'offensive dawgs' over the last five years, in fact, and that skews the perception of his actual performance. That Marner has been one of the playoffs' best defensive dawgs (his already-good Defensive Rating jumps by the third-most of any forward to play 41 or more playoff games over the last five years) is often ignored as well. Whether that's how Toronto's superstars should be used — as shutdown specialists — is worthy of scrutiny, but Marner's likely frustration is understandable through this lens. Marner is doing the 'defense wins championships' stuff that is often viewed as necessary to win and following the lore of Steve Yzerman sacrificing offense for defense. It just hasn't worked for the Maple Leafs. One of the reasons for that is the Leafs have not been able to adequately create offensive depth behind their superstars, due partly to the cap constraints of said superstars. Marner may be sacrificing offense for defense (and arguably too much of it), but he didn't sacrifice anything on his paycheck the way many other winning superstars have. And that's where the burden of expectations is magnified further — and where there's a lot less empathy for the perception around Marner in particular. If Marner is getting paid to do it all, and he's not doing one of the things he's paid for at that level, and his team doesn't have cap space to make up for it, that's a problem created by Marner. Advertisement Marner didn't ask for the level of vitriol spewed in his direction, nor does he deserve the extremes reached after this postseason. But there's a good reason why he is often the lightning rod for criticism among the team's core, an entirely self-inflicted one given his last contract standoff. While some of it is beyond unacceptable, a lot of the pointed criticism of his play is fair game. When a player demands more than his closest peer (Mikko Rantanen, signed for $9.25 million over six years in the same offseason) and his closest comparable (Patrick Kane signed for the 2019-20 equivalent of $9 million over five years) by a substantial margin, he is setting a higher standard for himself. It's a standard fans will hold him accountable to. To Marner's credit, it's a standard he reached during the regular season, and that does matter. He played like an $11 million player (or more) in each of the six years of his contract, often looking like one of the league's best forwards. If all you care about is the regular season, Marner lived up to his big-ticket contract, scoring at a 102-point pace over his six-year deal with four straight seasons over a 100-point pace. That he reached such a high regular-season level is also what made it so disappointing when he struggled to get there when it really mattered, especially offensively. That part of Marner's game is what got him the big bucks, not his defensive game, and its disappearance in big games was hard for many fans to stomach. Marner earning $1.5-2 million more than he should've as an RFA is money that could've been spent to help bolster Toronto's offensive firepower. Because it went to Marner instead, it's on Marner to be able to deliver to that level when it counts to make up for the team's depth sacrifice. It's an unfairly high bar considering what's asked of Marner defensively at the top of the lineup, but it's one he signed up for. It's what he was paid for. It's a bar other superstars have had less trouble reaching. Advertisement That Marner couldn't creates double the disappointment: he wasn't as good as his regular-season self and he wasn't as good as his contract. The latter adds more fuel to the fire. It's a pressurized loop that was arguably of Marner's own making, one that spun harsher with each playoff performance below expectations. Had Marner originally opted for a deal closer to his RFA value in line with his peers, I do not doubt the high expectations placed on him would be lessened significantly. There would be some disappointment, sure, but much less of it would be tied to how much of the salary cap Marner takes up — especially considering the way it was negotiated. That eased burden may have even had a positive effect on Marner's game. Which brings us to the main topic at hand: Marner's next contract, where it seems as if the winger's camp has not learned any lessons over the last six years. Again, Marner's closest comparable is Rantanen, who just signed for $12 million over eight years with the Stars. That's a comparison that will likely follow Marner for his entire contract, especially given Rantanen's knack for elevating his game when it matters — a quality Marner lacks. Regardless of the difference in dawg, that number is close to what's arguably fair for a player as valuable as Marner: $12.5 million. That was roughly what I had for Marner's next deal the last time I wrote about it and it's what I have again going into free agency. It's in the ballpark of what AFP Analytics projects ($13.0 million over seven years) and Evolving Hockey ($12.7 million over seven years). It's also in line with what David Pastrnak, a better winger than Marner at the time, signed for (equivalent of $12.9 million over eight years) in 2023. There are a lot of signs pointing to $13 million being the line in the sand between a good and bad deal for Marner. And I'd argue that line should be closer to $12.5 million. But just like his first contract negotiation, it seems as if Marner's camp is posturing for more than he's worth after factoring for aging and cap growth. Credit where credit is due: Marner's camp is using all the leverage he has to get one of the NHL's richest contracts, and all the power to him if he gets it. If Marner's top priority is securing the bag above all else, his camp is doing a fantastic job of negotiating through the media, anchoring and conditioning the public to a huge number that will likely make that quest successful. (Or to paint what's actually fair as a 'discount' to reframe Marner's narrative.) Advertisement It would not be a shock if there was a bidding war on July 1 that got Marner's number up to $13.5 million or even $14 million. It should be noted, too, that $13.5 million is in line with Artemi Panarin's percentage of cap hit six years ago. If that is where Marner's top priority lies, it would create another situation similar to the one he was just in; one that will invite intense scrutiny of his play relative to the size of his contract. It'll be less vociferous in a smaller and quieter market, but it'll still exist to some degree if Marner's sole goal is winning the most money. If his top priority is to win a Stanley Cup, taking less on a team-friendly deal is something Marner should consider — especially if the criticism of his play has bothered him as much as speculated. It's his best avenue to reset expectations, relieve pressure and change his narrative. (And if it's a hometown discount for Toronto, it's also a way for Marner to help repair a fraught relationship with the fan base.) Taking less to win is not a new concept. It's something many of the league's best players (Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov) have done in order to help get their team over the hump. It's also the exact strategy that stood in Toronto's way of the conference final this season with Florida's core all making substantially less than their collective worth. Some of that is a result of no-state tax, yes, but I'd reckon a much larger part is a team-wide understanding of what it takes to win — and the cost of it. That's a domino effect that started at the top with Aleksander Barkov. It's culture more than taxes. It also helps shield the stars from the burden of expectations that a high dollar figure demands. There would likely be a lot more noise (relative to market size, of course) around Sam Reinhart scoring at a 56-point pace over the last three Stanley Cup Final runs (but elevating his game defensively like Marner) if he was making closer to his true value. Having a Cup ring helps, but this year's four goals in 17 playoff games would be a lot more harrowing if he was making $11.5 million instead of $8.6 million, a discount that helped the Panthers afford Brad Marchand, who helps make up the difference. It's a two-pronged effect because there's also less noise the further a team goes, something a hometown discount makes more likely. That's not a luxury the Leafs had with Marner's last deal. If Florida continues to be the team to beat in the East, the only way to get through them is to try and match them. The Panthers were the league's top contract efficiency team last year and that will likely be the case again this year. Those discounts at the top of the lineup create depth in the middle of it. It's been the separating factor between the teams that win and the Leafs for the entirety of Marner's last contract. If he is serious about winning, taking less to do so should be a serious consideration for him because that sacrifice starts with players of his ilk. That thought process applies to the other contenders — Carolina, Vegas — that Marner has been linked to, not just Toronto. Advertisement That's within reason, of course. No one expects Marner to take an $8 million deal with any team, but even a small discount would help signify what matters most to him. That's been the biggest question surrounding him over the last six seasons as a result of his last public contract negotiation, where he earned a deal well above what was expected. The current public negotiation of his next contract has done nothing to dispel the notion. The number Marner ends up signing for will be extremely telling. If it's $13 million or more, it's money that's likely the highest priority. If it's $12 million or less, it would show that Marner is a lot more serious about winning than his current reputation dictates. Where Marner wants public perception of him to lie is in his hands. More money means a higher bar for him to clear. While Marner will have the opportunity to rise above it and prove he's worth every dollar of a big ticket deal, it's not a strength he's proven he possesses. Not when it matters. Data via Evolving-Hockey and AFP Analytics


Washington Post
5 hours ago
- Washington Post
Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh sets two world records in three days
VICTORIA, Canada — Canadian teen Summer McIntosh set her second world record in three days at the Canadian swimming trials on Monday night. McIntosh swam the 200-meter individual medley in 2 minutes 5.7 seconds, breaking the previous record of 2:06.12 set by Hungary great Katinka Hosszu in 2015. 'I've been knocking on the door on this one. I've just tried to chip away, chip away at it. To finally do it, it's kind of like, wow, I've finally got that done,' McIntosh said. The 18-year-old Toronto native had already broken the world best mark in the 400 freestyle on Saturday, completing the race in 3:54.18, shaving more than a second off the old record of 3:55.38 set by Ariarne Titmus of Australia. McIntosh broke her own Canadian record in the 800 freestyle on Sunday, when her time of 8:05.07 was just 0.95 of a second off the world record set by Katie Ledecky in May. 'I'm really trying to take it one race at a time,' McIntosh said. 'Really kind of cruising the heats and then coming to every final super locked in and focused.' McIntosh won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year, winning her three individual events of the 400 and 200 individual medleys and the 200 butterfly. She also won silver in the 400 free. ___ AP sports: