Game 4 of PWHL Finals Ended in Pure Chaotic Fashion

Minnesota had its championship celebration interrupted by officials overturning the apparent game-winning goal.
Screengrab via PWHL

For a minute, Minnesota thought it won the first Walter Cup in the history of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) on Sunday. Until it didn't.

Minnesota, which entered Game 4 of the PWHL Finals leading Boston 2–1 in the best-of-five series, began its championship celebration when defender Sophie Jaques broke a scoreless tie with what appeared to be the game-winning goal in the second overtime of Game 4.

Minnesota players threw their gloves and sticks on the ice and began piling on one another. The 13,104 fans at Xcel Energy Center thought it was over, too. But officials overturned the goal due to goaltender interference, as Taylor Heise slid into Boston goalie Aerin Frankel after passing the puck to Jaques.

The game went on—but not for much longer. Boston scored the actual game-winner 70 seconds later when forward Alina Müller sent a wrist shot past goaltender Nicole Hensley.

There will be a decisive Game 5 of the 2024 PWHL on Wednesday.

"I had no doubt it was goaltender interference," Müller said after the game [via the Star Tribune]. "It's tough when you get a goal overturned. The momentum goes to the other team. It was on our side."

The PWHL was established in August 2023 and opened its inaugural season in January. The league is made up of six teams—Minnesota, Boston, Montreal, New York, Ottawa and Toronto. Toronto had the best regular-season showing with 47 points in the standings in 24 games, but Minnesota sent them home in the playoff semifinals.


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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.