Three early lessons from the Seattle Torrent’s first three games in the PWHL

With only three games under their young belt, the Seattle Torrent have already shown flashes of promise, moments of grit, and clear areas to tighten up, all while carving out an identity in front of raucous support. It’s early, but the early tape says plenty. Here are three thoughts from the Torrent’s opening games.

What needs work: the middle of the game gets messy

Across all three games, Seattle has shown offensive sparks but has lacked consistent finishing through sixty minutes. In the inaugural game at Vancouver, the Torrent had multiple opportunities and even scored, but defensive lapses and a late surge from the Goldeneyes turned a competitive tilt into a 4–3 overtime loss. In the home opener, Seattle fought hard against the defending champion Minnesota Frost and generated looks but was shut out 3–0 despite strong support and a record crowd. It was not until game three against New York that the offensive push broke through. Even then, the scoring burst came late in the third period, with a pair of power play goals in the final ninety seconds.

These three games show a pattern. The Torrent have difficulty maintaining pressure at even strength, and their offense often sputters until late. The team will need more decisive zone entries to turn shots into goals. They will also need better situational awareness during middle frames to avoid playing from behind. Another key improvement area is even-strength finishing—diversifying attack plans will help ensure goals do not come only in late power play situations.

What's working really well so far

Even with clear areas to polish, there is plenty that has clicked for the Torrent. First, there is toughness. In the Sirens game, they refused to fold and ground through most of the contest before erupting with two goals in twenty two seconds to clinch a historic first home win. That late push did more than secure a result. It signaled a team willing to compete until the final horn.

Another positive sign is that Seattle’s power play has delivered in key moments. While even-strength offense has lagged, the Torrent have capitalized on special teams opportunities. Both goals against New York came on the man advantage, and their puck movement in those moments suggests they can exploit opposing penalty kills when needed.

Seattle has also benefited from depth contributions. Players beyond the top stars have shown they belong. Young forwards like Hannah Bilka have provided multi point contributions, complementing leadership from veterans like Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter. Carpenter scored Seattle’s first ever home goal before Knight added the game winner in game three. The early results show a blend of veteran leadership and emerging depth pieces, giving the Torrent multiple lines that can contribute even if the consistency is still developing.

Goaltending: the tone-setters in the crease

Seattle’s crease situation has been one of the most intriguing early storylines. Corinne Schroeder, brought in as the veteran anchor with a track record of elite play (she led the PWHL in shutouts last season and posted strong numbers with New York), entered the year with high expectations. Through the first two games, though, she has faced a tougher adjustment than anyone anticipated. In the opener at Vancouver and the home debut against Minnesota, the goals Schroeder allowed put a spotlight on defensive execution in front of her as much as on the goaltending itself. While she made a solid number of saves, including 22 against Minnesota in front of a record crowd of 16,014, she has had to weather difficult outings adapting to a new system and defensive structure.

That is where Hannah Murphy’s emergence becomes a key piece of Seattle’s early narrative. In her PWHL debut against the New York Sirens, Murphy delivered a composed performance with 23 saves and the win in Seattle’s first home victory. As a rookie with a standout collegiate resume, including top marks in saves and save percentage at Colgate, Murphy’s confidence and positioning gave Seattle a steadying presence in a tight game. Her early success now gives the Torrent something valuable. They have versatility: Schroeder still brings experience and pedigree, while Murphy has shown she is ready to step in and deliver when the moment demands. This is a luxury not all young franchises have.

The Torrent have the building blocks of a strong club, including credible goaltending options, a growing identity as a strong late game team, and depth throughout the lineup. If they tighten their structure at even strength and find more consistent scoring, they could quickly turn tight games into controlled wins. Already, Seattle feels like a team on the rise and one that fans can rally behind as they grow into their game.