Taylor Heise scored a go-ahead, power-play goal 8 minutes, 30 seconds into the third period to power Minnesota to a 3-1 victory over Toronto in Game 5 of the PWHL Playoffs semifinal Friday in Toronto, sending Minnesota into the inaugural PWHL Finals.
Minnesota will take on Boston in the PWHL Finals.
It was a stunning series turnaround for Minnesota after it dropped the first two games of the series. Minnesota then rattled off three straight victories, including a double-overtime win in Game 4 on Wednesday, and win the series to reach the PWHL Finals.
Minnesota goaltender Maddie Rooney made 27 saves on 28 shots in another goaltender duel that resembled Minnesota’s Game 4 double-overtime victory. Kristen Campbell was excellent for Toronto again, too, stopping 27 of 29 Minnesota shots.
Minnesota struck first when Denisa Krizova scored a power-play goal 7 minutes, 29 seconds into the second period to finally break a scoreless tie.
That lead was quite short-lived, however, as Rebecca Leslie answered 38 seconds later with a goal for Toronto.
It remained a 1-1 draw until Heise, the former Gophers standout, scored the go-ahead tally on the power play off assists from Lee Stecklein and Kendall Coyne Schofield.
Sophia Kunin added an empty-net goal with 1 minute, 12 seconds remaining to officially put the game away.
