PWHL Minnesota gets its first-ever home game against PWHL Boston on Sunday and as such, Minnesota enters as a half-goal favorite. While the short history of the series suggests that the size of that spread could be accurate, it might be on the wrong side of the market.
Despite a six-point gap in the PWHL standings, these teams have been extremely competitive with each other head-to-head. Bettors simply need to decide how much weight to give to the data from only two games in that series.
PWHL Boston at Minnesota details
The PWHL’s only game on the day features the third-ever meeting of these teams. The series has produced a split so far across two games in Boston and a total of 12 goals. Each game was decided by just one of those goals, however.
- Puck drop: 4 p.m. ET, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024
- Venue: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Broadcast: Canada – SportsNet United States – Bally Sports North, NESN
- Previous meeting: Jan. 27, 2024, at Boston, 4-3 Boston win
- Last 5 games: Boston LLLLW, Minnesota WLWWL
- Boston points: 15, 3-4 in regulation, 2-2 in overtime
- Minnesota points: 21, 5-3 in regulation, 2-2 in overtime
- Minnesota goal differential: +3 overall, +4 at home, even against Boston
- Boston goal differential: -4 overall, +3 on the road, even against Minnesota
Boston has struggled against other teams in the league but been very competitive in two games against Minnesota. There is another reason to expect a very tight game on Sunday afternoon between these teams.
Handicapping PWHL Minnesota vs. Boston
It’s best to get the obvious out of the way. The over is definitely in play in this contest with the goal total markets sitting around 4.5 goals. For bettors considering the spread, there is some interesting if scant data.
Minnesota has undoubtedly put the worst special teams in the PWHL on the ice so far during the inaugural season. Minnesota has scored once on 15 power plays and and allowed five goals over 22 instances of being shorthanded so far this season.
Boston, admittedly, has not had to deploy its special teams nearly as many times to date. Boston has gone on the power play just six times so far and been shorthanded only nine times. Both of those are league lows.
Still, Boston’s rate of winning those instances ranks in the middle of the league right now. Thus, if special teams figure into this contest prominently, Boston may stand a good chance of pulling off the upset. The numbers suggest that circumstance is likely.