There are three games left in the season for the PWHL and that means we are down to the wire for playoff berths.
As of right now we know three things. First New York is out of the playoffs and has clinched the top overall pick in the coming draft. Second, Montreal is in the playoffs and will host their semifinal. Thirdly Toronto after their very slow start has roared back and has clinched the top overall seed in the playoffs, this means they will get to select their opponent from one of the three remaining teams, none of whom have locked in their spots.
In the PWHL you can receive 3, 2, 1, or 0 points in a game. With three games remaining that means there are a total of 64 possibilities of the games. Two games, Minnesota at New York and Montreal at Boston will be played on Saturday, with Minnesota playing early enough their game will be over well before Boston v Montreal finishes. Then on Sunday Ottawa will travel to Toronto knowing exactly what they need to do, if anything to make it into the playoffs.
Of the 64 possibilities, Minnesota will be in the playoffs in 63 of them. If Minnesota gets one or more point, or either Boston or Ottawa drop any points they will continue into the postseason.
Ottawa is in the playoffs in 40 scenarios. They make the playoffs with an equal or greater point total compared to Boston, or a regulation win and a Minnesota regulation loss also locks them in. A Boston regulation loss would make their game meaningless.
Boston is in the playoffs in 25 of the cases. They need to get more points then Ottawa or if Ottawa gets the full 3 points they need to win in regulation and have Minnesota lose in regulation.
There is a lot left to play for and every game will drastically reduce the paths forward. Right now Boston does not control their destiny, but they might by the time they have just started on Saturday.