PWHL

Ottawa Charge Recap: Week 12

Playoffs are still a long shot, after 1 win and 1 loss.

After a bit of a break from Charge content, we are back to recap two big games against Minnesota!

Last Week: Ottawa 0, Minnesota 5

Friday marked another stop on the PWHL’s takeover tour, as the Charge took on the Frost in Raleigh, North Carolina
Unfortunately for the people of Raleigh, who showed up in large numbers to support women’s hockey, the game was not exactly a nail-biter.
Coyne-Schofield scored early. I don’t think Maschmeyer ever had a chance on it - just pure skill from the Minnesota captain.
The second Frost goal was a lot weirder. McQuigge somehow lifted the puck into the net after falling down. A great effort, and probably not something Maschmeyer was expecting to see.
A third Frost goal only a few minutes after the second would spell the end of Maschmeyer’s night. That one was a bit harder to excuse.
No goals were scored in the second period. Phillips played well, but the Charge couldn’t get anything going.
Sophie Jaques scored on the very first shift of the third period. She was supposed to be a Charge for life…
Ottawa pretty much gave up at this point. Didn’t even try to come back. Minnesota sealed it with an empty-netter.

Ottawa got a rematch a few days later, this time at home for Indigenous Heritage night.
This game went a lot better. The Charge looked like the better team, with all the usual suspects playing well.
Brianne Jenner got the first goal of the game, tapping the puck in on the powerplay.

🚨 Brianne Jenner (3)
🍎 Jincy Roese
🍏 Tereza Vanišová pic.twitter.com/TierwCSKuq
— Ottawa Charge (@PWHL_Ottawa) March 11, 2025

They could have easily sat back and surrendered the lead in the second period, but they didn’t! In fact, Alexa Vasko pulled off an absolutely nasty move for her first goal with the Charge.

🚨 Alexa Vasko (1)
🍎🍏 Natalie Snodgrass pic.twitter.com/pm2PBnmDfe
— Ottawa Charge (@PWHL_Ottawa) March 12, 2025

Ottawa started the third period very well, but things went downhill quickly. Minnesota drew within one, and then Maschmeyer got injured and had to be helped off the ice. If she’s out for any amount of time, that’s the season right there.
Then, the Frost tied the game. The goal was reviewed, but after a very long delay, it counted.
Just as things started to look hopeless, Alexa Vasko came to the rescue yet again!

🚨 Alexa Vasko (2)
🍎 Ronja Savolainen
🍏 Zoe Boyd pic.twitter.com/JbldWKLncx
— Ottawa Charge (@PWHL_Ottawa) March 12, 2025

What a game for Vasko. She was the hero in that win. It's always fun to see depth players step up like that.
As I said earlier, the usual suspects were good. Savolainen was a beast on defense. Vanisova, Clark and Hughes stood out the most at forward.
I though Manon McMahon also had a very good game.
It was a great night for the powerplay. They looked like a threat to score every single time.

They only have one game next week, as the Boston Fleet come to town.
Boston has won all 3 meetings between these teams this season, all by one goal. They’re neck-and-neck with Minnesota for third in the league. Both teams are well ahead of Ottawa in the standings, but they’re the only teams the Charge has any hope of catching, so this is an important game.
That game will be at 2pm, and you can watch it on CBC. Should be a good pregame for the Sens game that evening.