The uptick in offensive production from center Taylor Heise has been clearly evident. So, too, has the standout goaltending from Maddie Rooney and Nicole Hensley.

But one underlying factor not to be overlooked that has brought Minnesota to within two wins of becoming the first Professional Women’s Hockey League champion has been the team defense that has forwards, defenders and goaltenders working as one cohesive unit to shut down opponents.

Minnesota registered its third shutout in its past five playoff games on Tuesday to even its best-of-five PWHL finals series with Boston at 1-1. It has gained home-ice advantage in the series heading into Game 3 on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center behind a united front that is all about effort, commitment and communication.

“Our entire team has refocused on what is the strength of our team, which is not giving up a ton of goals,” Minnesota center Kelly Pannek said. “That extends to every person, not just the goalies. When we’re playing the right way we’re on the proper side of pucks.

“The last handful of games we’ve done a really good job of relying on each other and trusting each other when appropriate. And when we’ve needed a big play we’ve gotten it.”

Pannek, Heise, Grace Zumwinkle and Kendall Coyne Schofield — among others — have been conspicuous in making strong plays on the backcheck in recent games to shut down a potential scoring threat.

“It’s the difference in games this time of year,” Pannek said. “Every little play matters; you never know when that extra stride you take catches you up to someone. And if that bounce or stick play or that backcheck can be the difference in the game.

“You have to get excited for those small-detail plays. They are plays that happen all the time all over the ice, but sometimes they get overlooked by the goals or the assists or the massive saves by our goaltenders.”

Minnesota coach Ken Klee said the team has focused all season on playing well away from the puck and gave credit to the players for buying into that approach.

“At this level we know the habits we need to play with,” Coyne Schofield said. “We know the detail our game has to have to be on the right side at the end of the game. Whether it’s on a backcheck, a 50-50 battle, being on the right side of the puck, it’s those little things that you come back to the room and ask yourself if you did all those things.

Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley (29) watches as defender Lee Stecklein (2) and Boston forward Lexie Adzija (8) chase the puck during the second period of Game 2 of a PWHL hockey championship series, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Lowell, Mass. (Mark Stockwell / Associated Press)

“In playoff hockey, when one of those boxes aren’t checked you usually aren’t on the right side. We’ve been doing all those little things well, finding that extra gear.”

Minnesota coaches and players alike rave about the role defender Lee Stecklein has played in the team’s defensive success. The 30-year-old Roseville native routinely leads Minnesota in minutes played and is called on to play in every situation.

“She’s the ultimate leader and obviously a great hockey player,” Klee said. “The girls gravitate to her — how hard so works, the way she takes care of herself. When she’s on the ice the entire team has more confidence.

“We call her the ‘Big Unit’ for a reason, because she can control the play.”

Coyne Schofield considers Stecklein to be “the backbone” of the team.

“She holds the crew together on and off the ice,” Coyne Schfield said. “The minutes she plays each night and the way she plays those minutes. You’re not seeing headlines about No. 2, but in our room you are. We know we’re not having success without her.”

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