Jess Healey remains positive about Boston’s playoff hopes.
As she skates into the regular season finale at the Tsongas Center, Healey and her Boston teammates are determined to make the Professional Women’s Professional Hockey League postseason.
Boston (7-4-3-9, 32 points) is tied with Ottawa (8-1-6-7, 32 points) for the fourth and final playoff spot. Both clubs are within striking distance of third-place Minnesota (8-4-3-8, 35 points), putting even more emphasis on this weekend’s results.
Boston is determined to defeat second-place Montreal on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
“We’re going to leave it all out on the ice,” said Healey. “Whatever happens happens. We’re just focusing on Saturday. We’re excited to be at home again in front of our fans. We’re looking forward to it.”
Minnesota travels to last place New York for a 1 p.m. game Saturday, with Ottawa wrapping up the regular season slate at first-place Toronto on Sunday.
“It’s been pretty intense looking at the standings,” said Healey, 27. “We’re excited to see how it goes, but just look forward to getting back out on home ice and finishing strong.”
Boston has been in playoff mode for the past two weeks. After enduring a heartbreaking 4-3 shootout loss in Ottawa on April 24, which put them on the brink of elimination, Boston bounced back over the weekend. Hannah Brandt buried the game-winner with 2.7 seconds left in regulation, as Boston topped Minnesota, 2-1.
“Just to get the three points in regulation and get that buzzer beater was huge,” said Healey. “It gave us a lot of momentum. We’re feeling good with how we’ve been playing lately. We’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing defending home ice.”
Boston can also thank its neighbors from New York. The last place team battled back from a two-goal deficit to beat Ottawa, 4-3, keeping Boston’s playoff hopes alive. And when Toronto topped Minnesota, 4-1, on Wednesday, it became a three-horse race.
There are still a number of ways for Boston to secure a playoff spot. The most straight forward path exists if Minnesota loses in regulation to New York on Saturday, followed by a Boston win in regulation against Montreal. In this scenario, both teams would have 35 points and Boston would own the tiebreaker by virtue of having more overtime wins.
It is important to note that overtime wins are not defined by the OTW column in the standings, but specifically games won in overtime. Boston has won three games in OT and one in a shootout, and Minnesota has won two games in OT and two in shootouts.
Minnesota needs just one point against New York to clinch third with 36 or more points. Boston would then need to finish with more points than Ottawa to secure fourth. If Ottawa and Boston are tied in points, Ottawa would own the tiebreaker by virtue of having more regulation wins.
“It’s kind of a crazy situation,” said Healey. “But we’re just focusing on what we can control and that’s our next game on Saturday.”
Paired on defense with her college teammate, Sidney Moran, Healey has earned her keep on the Boston blue line. The defenseman has scored a goal, added two assists and is a +3 in 21 games. She’s enjoyed playing in Lowell.
“It’s been incredible,” said Healey. “Coming into this I had no idea what to expect. I don’t think a lot of us did. It’s just been unbelievable from the people I’ve met, to the players I’ve got to play with, to the way we’ve been treated. Our facilities have been phenomenal, and the fans have been insane coming to Lowell to watch us.”
She feels this is the start of something big in the PWHL arena.
“We’ve gotten over 10,000 fans at some places, 13,000 in Detroit,” said Healey. “The fans have been incredible supporting us, having our backs and cheering us on. Being in Boston has been unreal. It’s a great sports city and we’ve gotten a lot of support from the other teams as well. No matter where we finish in the standings, it’s going to be something all of us will remember forever. I’m so glad to be a part of it.”
Saturday’s showdown also falls on Fan Appreciation night at the Tsongas, adding to the excitement.
“Hopefully we can get a lot of people out there cheering loudly,” said Healey, who will have plenty of friends and family in attendance. “I think it’s going to be a good weekend. We’re looking forward to it.”
Christopher Hurley
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