The Frost probably have more experience playing under extreme pressure in their young history than they would prefer.

They showed how good they were at it last season in beating the odds time and time again to win the PWHL championship. They passed another big test on Sunday afternoon at Xcel Energy Center.

With a spot in the playoffs still in doubt, the Frost put together one of their strongest efforts of the season, opening up a 4-0 lead en route to a 5-2 win over the Toronto Sceptres before an announced crowd of 9,536.

The Frost, who entered the game one point behind the Ottawa Charge for the fourth and final playoff spot, move two points ahead of the Charge. Ottawa has played one less game, with the difference to be made up on Wednesday when the Charge play at Boston.

“I felt our vibe before the game was a good kind of energy,” said goaltender Nicole Hensley, who stopped 27 shots to earn the victory. “You can tell with our group in off-ice warmups when we’re going to have a start like that.

“You could tell today the energy was really good. A lot of us who were here last year know what it feels like to be fighting for a playoff spot. Every game is important, and we know that, so (the pressure) is there, but’s it’s nothing we’re scared of or surprised by.”

Frost coach Ken Klee’s task was to make sure his team didn’t let the pressure prevent it from playing to its potential.

“For me it’s just making sure we’re ready,” Klee said, “that we’re focused on our habits and our details. Thus group is really good at being resilient and knowing that their backs are going to be up against the wall and they still can play free and with confidence and poise, and that’s what
we did today.”

Aside from a flurry by the Sceptres early in the third period that cut the Frost’s lead from 4-0 to 4-2, the Frost controlled the play.

“We had a lot jump to our game, a lot of jam,” Klee said. “We were fast, we were first on pucks. When we do those things, and we’re simple with the puck, we’re a tough team to handle.

“When you look, all four lines scored tonight, which is great. All four lines created lots of chances. They were good in their own zone. When we play as a four-line, deep team and everyone’s contributing, we’re a tough team to handle.”

In a game where the Frost got major contributions from a number of players, center Taylor Heise stood tallest. She scored at 1:01 of the first period, and Britta Curl-Salemme followed up with a goal 42 seconds later, setting a PWHL record for the two fastest goals to start a game.

Heise then put an end to Toronto’s hope for a comeback with her second goal of the game at 14:16 of the third period.

“I give some props to one of our coaches, Critter (assistant coach Chris Johnson), who pulled me in two days ago and went over (things),” Heise said. “He said, ‘I’m going to be really honest, there’s going to be four really bad clips and then we’re going to have four really good clips.’

“But he challenged me to get myself to the net, continue to be patient with the puck and not just throw it, knowing I have time and space because him fast. Having someone hold you accountable like that is important.”

Heise said the Frost’s focus coming was to get off to a quick start.

“We don’t want to put ourselves in the spot we did last year,” she said. “So, getting a goal right away, making good puck plays and then getting another goal right after that, obviously you do better when you’re up two goals.

“But I think we came out with a lot of speed. I was impressed with the way we continued to hound them. They did a lot of dumping and chasing, and they’re not a team that likes to do that.”

When the Sceptres did put on the pressure, Hensley was up to the challenge.

“I felt good, and our team played really well in front of me and blocked a lot of shots,” Hensley said. “In the third they were clearing out pucks and picking up sticks in front, which definitely saved us a couple goals.

“We took some punches from them in the third, but then we went right back down and showed what we can do. That last goal was huge to make sure we got the job done.”

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The Frost now have nearly a month off due to the break for the World Championships before playing their final three games of the regular season.

“Regardless of today’s outcome we know we’re going to have to win games in these next three,” Klee said. “We know it’s probably going to come down to the last game. That’s our mindset.

“We have a bit of a mental break now, which is good for our group.”