PWHL Finals Game Three: One Win Away

The first-ever PWHL Finals switched scenes to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, the exact home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. Two games would be played at the arena, and that was guaranteed due to Minnesota's 3-0 win over Boston in Game Two of the Finals. The win evened things up at 1-1, turning the Finals into a best-of-three affair.

The Minnesota crowd was rocking, as this was the state's first time hosting a pro hockey championship since 1991, which was the last time that the Minnesota North Stars reached the Stanley Cup Final before moving to Dallas. While the State of Hockey had to wait 33 years for this atmosphere, they wouldn't have to wait a full minute for a goal. Taylor Heise, the team's unsung star, scored in only 59 seconds into the game, with Michaela Cava assisting. Boston received the game's first power play, but that was killed off, and at 17:38, Sydney Brodt made it 2-0 for the home team.

Second period was quiet, but Minnesota was holding on; nothing was getting past Nicole Hensley. That did change at the near end of the frame, as with two seconds left, Alina Müller put Boston on the board. Minnesota led 2-1 after 40 minutes of play, but Boston seemed to have the momentum, which comes with getting on the board late in a period. However, Cava struck early in the third, scoring her third goal of the Finals to give Minnesota their two-goal lead back. Minnesota went on the power play later on, but Boston killed it off. With 4:23 left in regulation, Boston went on the power play. They pulled their goalie to make it 6-on-4, but it didn't take long for Minnesota to ice it. Grace Zumwinkle put it in the empty net; a shorthanded goal to make it 4-1.

Minnesota won, 4-1, over Boston, and with the win, they are one win away from capturing the Walter Cup and becoming the first champions of the PWHL. Michaela Cava has become quite clutch in this championship series, she has three goals in as many games in this series; in fact, she scored the first goal in each of the first two games, and assisted in the first goal of Game Three. She's giving me big time Mikko Rantanen vibes here. Cava has to be the front-runner for playoffs MVP, but an argument can definitely be made for either Taylor Heise or Nicole Hensley.

Game Four of the PWHL Finals in Sunday in Minnesota. That state hasn't much to celebrate in pro sports. The WNBA's Minnesota Lynx currently stand as the state's winningest (current) pro team with four championships, while MLB's Minnesota Twins won two World Series in 1987 and 1991. While the Lakers won five of their 17 NBA Championships in Minnesota, their current NBA team, the Timberwolves, are empty handed. We know the story regarding the Vikings; played in four of the first 11 Super Bowls, lost them all, and haven't played in one since.

And then there's the NHL. Despite being the State of Hockey and having two NHL franchises, no Cups have been won in Minnesota. The original North Stars only reached the Final twice (1981 and 1991), while their current team, the Wild, had only one good run in their franchise history. Sunday could be the biggest hockey night for the state of Minnesota, as their PWHL franchise could complete an amazing Cinderella run. They finished fourth in the six-team league, they were down 2-0 in the best-of-five Semifinals, yet despite it all, they are one win away from becoming the league's first ever champions.