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PHF Playoffs Preview 2023: Everything you need to know to start watching

By Eric Treuden

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 26: Mikyla Grant-Mentis #13 of Toronto Six skates against Taylor Wenczkowski #18 and Paige Capistran #20 of Boston Pride during first period of the NWHL Isobel Cup Semifinal at Warrior Ice Arena on March 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 26: Mikyla Grant-Mentis #13 of Toronto Six skates against Taylor Wenczkowski #18 and Paige Capistran #20 of Boston Pride during first period of the NWHL Isobel Cup Semifinal at Warrior Ice Arena on March 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The PHF regular season is winding down and the Isobel Cup Playoffs are rapidly approaching.

As year eight of the Premier Hockey Federation comes to a close, this season was one of the best yet. Highlighted by the addition of the Montreal Force as an expansion team and the league’s salary cap raising, things are looking up for the still-developing league.

The PHF’s version of the Stanley Cup is called the Isobel Cup, named after Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy, one of the first-ever female hockey players. The front of the trophy is engraved with the following message.

"The Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Cup 1875-1963. This Cup, shall be awarded annually to the greatest professional women’s hockey team in North America. All who pursue this Cup, pursue a dream; a dream born with Isobel, that shall never die. EST. 2016."

How many teams are in the PHF Playoffs?

The entire league is made up of seven clubs; the Boston Pride, Toronto Six, Minnesota Whitecaps, Connecticut Whale, Montreal Force, Metropolitan Riveters and Buffalo Beauts.

Of those, the top four secure a spot in the playoffs.

Who are the best players in the PHF Playoffs?

The league is filled to the brim with talent. On offense, Loren Gabel, a forward for the Boston Pride, is the top scorer by a longshot. She has 35 points (19 goals) under her belt to this point while Kennedy Marchant of the Connecticut Whale is second in the league with 29 (14 goals).

Gabel is the top offensive player on a team that’s locked into the playoffs.

The best goalie in the league by far is Corinne Schroeder, Gabel’s teammate. She has a GAA (Goals Against Average) of just 1.57 while the second place Amanda Leveille sits at 2.41. Schroeder’s save percentage is up to .958%, far above Leveille’s .920.

Who are the best teams in the PHF Playoffs?

As of right now, only the top two teams in the league have officially locked in spots in the playoffs: the Boston Pride (16-3-1) and the Toronto Six (16-4-2). The Pride are the defending series champions.

While the two clubs’ records are differentiated by just a single game, the Pride have a much larger score differential than the Six. Boston sits at +36 while Toronto sits at +25.

Regardless of which teams fill out the other two spots in the playoffs, these two will be the ones to watch.

The Connecticut Whale (10-8-2) and Minnesota Whitecaps (10-8-2) seem like the top two teams to fill out the remaining spots on the playoff bracket.

How do I watch the PHF Playoffs?

All viewers in the United States can stream games with an ESPN+ subscription. There are no television broadcasts available for the matchups.

All viewers in Canada can stream games on any of TSN’s platforms with a subscription to TSN+, as well as on their digital app TSN Direct.

Check out our PHF hub page for more news, analysis, opinion and unique women’s hockey coverage. And don’t forget to follow FOR(E) on Twitter, FanSided’s home for women’s sports.