PWHL Championship 2026 Betting Preview: Walter Cup Predictions & Winner Odds

Montreal Victorie (+200)

The Victorie head into the Walter Cup Playoffs with plenty of momentum. They finished tied with the Fleet for the most points in the league at 62, and, by virtue of a tiebreaker, Montreal holds the top seed with a 22-6-2 record.

With that top seed, the Victorie have the privilege of choosing their semifinal opponent, and they’ve selected the Minnesota Frost. Montreal won eight of its last nine regular-season games to clinch first place, a run that included 1-0 and 3-2 victories over Boston. In the regular-season finale, the Victorie capped a fantastic stretch by defeating Seattle in a shootout.

Montreal also led the PWHL in goal margin with a +37. Kori Cheverie’s squad scored 78 goals, an average of 2.6 per game in 2026. They have an incredibly well-balanced, deep roster that doesn’t rely too heavily on any one player. With production coming from all four lines, the Victorie can be dangerous in any matchup.

The team lost captain Marie-Philip Poulin to an injury, but they stayed on track for their impressive push to end the season. Despite playing in only 19 games, she led the Victorie with nine goals and 16th in the PWHL. Poulin was activated for the last regular season game and will be available for the playoffs, giving Montreal a huge boost.

Captain Clutch loading… 👀

Marie-Philip Poulin is BACK in the lineup for @PWHL_Montreal in the 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs presented by SharkNinja! pic.twitter.com/ELCyzhZfpk

— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) April 27, 2026

Defensively, the Victorie have been excellent as well. They rank first in the league, yielding an average of just 1.36 goals per game. Goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens was nearly unbeatable, with a stellar 1.11 GAA and 0.955 save percentage. There aren’t any glaring holes in Montreal’s defense, making them a top contender for the title.

Boston Fleet (+200)

The Fleet pushed the Victoire right to the final days of the regular season but ultimately came up just short in the race for the league’s top spot. They had to settle for the second seed in the Walter Cup Playoffs after Montréal’s red-hot finish.

Boston’s late stumble opened the door. The Fleet managed only two wins in their final five games, squandering what looked like a clear path to first place with Poulin out of Montréal’s lineup. Instead of closing it out, Boston faltered, and Montréal capitalized.

In the standings and on the stat sheet, though, the gap between the two clubs is minimal. The Fleet scored just four fewer goals and allowed only four more than Montréal over the season. On paper, the margin separating Boston and Montréal is razor thin.

Up front, Jessie Eldridge drives the Fleet attack. Her 14 goals have her tied-second in PWHL scoring, and she’s the team’s emotional and offensive catalyst. If Eldridge catches fire, she has the talent to swing an entire series on her own, making her a priority focus for any opposing game plan.

POWER PLAY GOAL 😤

Jessie Eldridge scores her second of the game on the power play, extending @PWHL_Boston's lead to 2–0 over the Frost! pic.twitter.com/a37Nv6PJZY

— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) April 16, 2026

In goal, Aerin Frankel has been outstanding. Her 1.17 goals-against average and .953 save percentage place her just behind Desbiens, with both netminders well clear of the rest of the league. Frankel’s dominance between the pipes has been central to Boston’s rise as a true powerhouse and could be the difference-maker in the postseason.

Still, they’ll have to cool off a red-hot Victorie team and should probably be +225 to +250 in the PWHL betting markets.

Minnesota Frost (+250)

The Frost are the only team in PWHL history to win the Walter Cup! They certainly know about finding an extra gear and winning playoff hockey. However, the Frost were a step behind the Victorie and Fleet in the regular season.

Minnesota wrapped up the 2025-26 campaign with 50 points and a record of 16-9-5. The Frost are equipped with a high-profile offense that led the league in scoring. With 91 goals, Minnesota averaged 3.03 per game. They were the only team in the league to notch 3+ goals a matchup.

THE NAME AT THE TOP 🫡

Kelly Pannek ends the 2025-26 season leading the PWHL in goals AND points! pic.twitter.com/Mel5QkjoJ8

— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) April 26, 2026

Forward Kelly Pannek leads the PWHL in points and goals. The American tallied 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points in total. Considering Minnesota’s quick strike offense and experience in the playoffs, you can’t discard the Frost for the Walter Cup.

The issue for Minnesota is in the defensive zone, where they’ve had several lapses this season. The Frost rank in a tie with the Charge, yielding 73 goals per game for the fourth-best mark in the PWHL. The intensity levels are turned up several notches in the postseason, and defense typically wins playoff games.

Nevertheless, after winning back-to-back Walter Cups, the Frost can’t be taken lightly.

1. Ottawa Charge (+6500)

The Fleet and Victorie enter the Walter Cup Playoffs with a clear edge over the rest of the field. Still, upsets happen, and everyone starts from the same 0-0-0 record. If you’re interested in a longshot, the Charge at +6500 offer intriguing value.

For context, the Toronto Spectres are priced at +1200 to win the PWHL Championship. I believe the Charge should be in a similar range, around +1200, rather than this massive +6500 number. Winning the Walter Cup will be a challenge, but at this price, the Charge are well worth a look for a small wager.

Ottawa finished the regular season 17-12-1 and showed they can perform under pressure, racking up eight overtime wins in 2025-26. Offensively, they were solid, scoring 71 goals, keeping them within single digits of both the Fleet and Victorie.

Defensively, the Charge are tied with the First, allowing just 2.43 goals per game on average. Given that profile, Ottawa doesn’t deserve to be sitting at +6500 to win the Walter Cup. That mispricing, however, creates excellent value for bettors. I wouldn’t recommend a large stake, but even a small bet at +6500 could yield a substantial return.