SEATTLE (Interstat) — Seattle Torrent survived a frantic final minute and beat Minnesota Frost 5-4 in a Professional Women’s Hockey League game at Climate Pledge Arena on April 22, ending Minnesota’s recent dominance in the season series. Alex Carpenter, Seattle’s top star, had a goal and an assist, and goaltender Hannah Murphy made 38 saves on 42 shots. Minnesota’s Taylor Fox scored twice and recorded eight shots on goal, while Kelly Pannek had a goal and two assists as the Frost nearly erased a two-goal third-period deficit. The Torrent led 5-3 in the third before Minnesota scored with 14 seconds left, but Seattle held on for its first win over the Frost this season.

Minnesota struck first in the opening period. Taylor Fox scored at 4:35, with Katy Knoll and Kendall Cooper assisting. Seattle answered at 14:12 when Aneta Tejralová scored, with Julia Gosling and Anna Wilgren getting assists. The only penalty of the first period came at 12:20, when Minnesota’s Klára Hymlárová was sent off for hooking. Minnesota held a 1-0 lead for nearly 10 minutes before Seattle tied it. The teams went to the first intermission tied 1-1.

The second period produced four goals and swung momentum repeatedly. Minnesota regained the lead at 1:12 when Grace Zumwinkle scored, assisted by Kendall Coyne Schofield and Pannek. Seattle responded with two goals 11 seconds apart. Alex Carpenter tied the game at 8:12, with Theresa Schafzahl and Wilgren assisting. Gabrielle David then put Seattle ahead at 8:23, assisted by Natalie Snodgrass. The swift sequence gave Seattle its first lead of the game. Minnesota answered late in the period after Seattle’s Emily Brown took a holding penalty at 17:16. Taylor Fox scored her second goal at 17:41, with Lee Stecklein and Pannek assisting, tying the game 3-3.

Seattle took control in the third period. Hilary Knight scored at 2:29, with Schafzahl and Carpenter assisting, to make it 4-3. Anna Wilgren added what proved to be the winner at 11:42, assisted by Lily Delianedis and Emily Brown, giving Seattle a 5-3 lead, its largest of the night. Penalties went to Seattle’s Lyndie Lobdell for illegal body checking at 13:53 and Minnesota’s Pannek for tripping at 14:49. Minnesota pulled closer at 19:46 when Pannek scored, assisted by Britta Curl-Salemme and Stecklein, but only 14 seconds remained and Seattle held on. Seattle’s defense limited Minnesota until the final seconds.

Fox led Minnesota with two goals and eight shots on goal. Pannek finished with a goal, two assists, two shots on goal and two penalty minutes. Carpenter had a goal, an assist and five shots on goal. Wilgren added a goal, two assists, one shot on goal and two hits. Wilgren’s goal and two assists gave the Torrent production from the back end. Murphy earned the win with 38 saves on 42 shots. Her 38 saves anchored Seattle’s defense as Minnesota pushed for a late equalizer. David scored once, while Coyne Schofield had one assist and seven shots on goal. Stecklein contributed two assists and four shots on goal, Knoll had one assist and four shots on goal with one hit, and Schafzahl recorded two assists and one shot. Minnesota’s record fell to 16-13, while Seattle improved to 9-20.

Seattle’s victory came after Minnesota had won the previous three meetings between the teams by a combined 13-3 score. The Torrent had lost five of seven before this game, while Minnesota had dropped two of its previous three. Seattle’s win snapped a two-game losing streak. Minnesota next visits Vancouver, and Seattle hosts Montreal. The Frost remain on the road for their next game, while the Torrent return home. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Minnesota with a 61.6 percent probability to win before the game.