STATE OF HOCKEY

Minnesota wins inaugural championship after improbable playoff run

- MARK COLLEY

Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield carries the Walter Cup to her team after defeating Boston to win the inaugural PWHL title in the deciding fifth game.

Who could’ve dreamed this up?

Less than a month ago, Minnesota stumbled to the end of the PWHL regular season. The team lost five consecutive games — a winless streak that lasted more than a month — and snuck into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season when Ottawa was eliminated with a loss to Toronto.

Then Minnesota lost the first two games of its semifinal to Toronto, unable to even muster a goal.

But something changed. Minnesota flipped the script and came back in the semifinal, then flew into the Walter Cup final against Boston. And, with a 3-0 win Wednesday in Game 5, Minnesota won the inaugural PWHL championship.