Vancouver Goldeneyes beat Seattle Torrent 4-1 on Monday night at Climate Pledge Arena, a result that made Seattle the first team eliminated from PWHL playoff contention this season. The Torrent have since activated the Gold Plan, entering the league's draft lottery for the top overall pick.
Vancouver controlled the game from the start and never looked troubled. The Goldeneyes got contributions across their lineup, with Tereza Vanišová (15 goals, 7 assists in 30 games) and Hannah Miller (10 goals, 14 assists in 29 games) continuing to lead the offensive attack. Sophie Jaques added poise from the back end with 22 points on the season.
Hilary Knight scored Seattle's lone goal. Knight has been the Torrent's best player all season with a team-leading 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 30 games. But even her production has not been enough to lift a team that sits last in the standings at 27 points with an 8-16 record.
The elimination formalizes what has looked likely for weeks. Seattle's season has been marked by close losses and defensive breakdowns. The Gold Plan gives the Torrent a path toward the future, with a lottery pick that could reshape the roster heading into Season 4.
For Vancouver, the win was about survival. The Goldeneyes sit seventh at 32 points and need results in their final two games to have any shot at a playoff berth. They trail sixth-place New York by two points and fifth-place Toronto by five.
Vancouver returns home to face Minnesota on April 25 at Langley Events Centre. Seattle closes out its season hosting Montréal and Minnesota later in the week.