There will be hockey on Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota stayed alive in the Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs on Monday at Xcel with a 2-0 win over Toronto.

Toronto leads the best-of-five series 2-1. A Minnesota win on Wednesday would send the series back to Toronto for a deciding Game 5.

Minnesota goaltender Maddie Rooney, making her second straight start after a standout performance in Game 2, made 18 saves to earn the shutout.

After it was shut out in the first two games, Minnesota finally found some offense.

Maggie Flaherty scored Minnesota’s first goal of the postseason early in the second period to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Flaherty beat Toronto goaltender Kristen Campbell on a wrist shot from the top of the right-wing circle with Denisa Krizova providing a screen in front. Krizova followed with a goal of her own just over six minutes later.

The game featured tight checking from the opening faceoff.

Minnesota had the only two shots on goal through the first 10 minutes of play. Minnesota got the game’s first power play at 11:28 of the first period but came up empty despite some good pressure.

Minnesota got another opportunity at 14:26 of the period when Toronto’s Kali Flanagan was sent off for tripping. But Toronto ended up with the best scoring chance while short-handed, with Rooney making a left pad save on Blayre Turnbull from in tight.

Minnesota outshot Toronto 11-2 in a scoreless first period.

Flaherty’s goal, at 2:12 of the second period, came after an aggressive start to the period by Toronto. A rare miscue by Campbell helped give Minnesota a 2-0 lead at 8:39 of the period.

Campbell made an easy stop on a long shot but was unable to control the rebound. The puck was free at her skates when Krizova was there to poke it in.

Trailing 2-0 after two periods, Toronto got its first power play of the game at 4:04 of the third period. Rooney was called on to make one big stop late in the power play, with the crowd responding by chanting her last name.

Toronto went back on the power play at 15:04 when Sophia Kunin was sent off for tripping.

Minnesota killed off the penalty without much trouble.

Taylor Heise appeared to have added an empty-net goal at 18:09, but a whistle blew the play dead on a delayed offside.

Briefly

The PWHL will begin announcing its award winners on Tuesday with naming of the rookie of the year. The winner of the coach of the year award will be announced on Wednesday, followed by the forward of the year.

Defender of the year, goaltender of the year and the Billie Jean King Most Valuable Player will be announced next week.

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