Ottawa Charge Recap: Week 14

The Ottawa Charge had just one game this week, on Saturday against the New York Sirens. These teams were fifth and sixth in the standings, so both teams knew that a regulation win was crucial to their playoff chances. Thankfully, Ottawa was up to the task and mercilessly defeated New York 5-2.

Due to Emerance Maschmeyer's likely season-ending injury, Gwyneth Philips got her third-straight start. Philips was impressive in this game, showing off her athleticism in particular. Several times the Sirens made cross-ice passes for one-timers, and she got across in an absolute hurry to make the saves. She also catches right, and any hockey player will tell you that messes with their head, as shots high blocker suddenly become routine glove saves for the goalie.

The first period was all about momentum. New York carried the first stretch of play, then Ottawa carried the next few minutes, including getting the game's first powerplay. The Sirens wrestled it back and got their own powerplay, but then Sarah Fillier took what felt like a soft hooking penalty in preventing the Charge from clearing, cutting their PP a little short. Just as I was thinking that Ottawa's passing looked off and the Sirens were doing a great job of preventing any offence, Gabbie Hughes made a perfect cross-ice pass to captain Brianne Jenner who buried it past a helpless Corinne Schroeder.

The second period was all NY pressure, with Ottawa taking three consecutive penalties. The Charge actually nearly took advantage of the "no escape" rule that forced them into starting the third PK with three forwards, racing up the ice on a 2-on-0 but failing to score. Instead it was the Sirens who got the game's next goal, finally breaking through Philips' heroics with Ella Shelton scoring blocker side. The Sirens did look like the team with the stronger chance of taking the lead, but then Aneta Tejralová took a clever shot from the point into five bodies. The puck bounced through and eluded Schroeder. Tejralová was initially given credit, but it was later determined that Tereza Vanišová got a touch on it and was credited with the goal.

For some reason, Vanišová scoring a goal in the game (bringing her to 11 on the season, good enough for third in the league) didn't alert them that they should play defence on her. She got a wraparound chance where she wasn't pressured coming around the net, so she got to wait for Schroeder to make a move then tuck it five-hole. Suddenly Ottawa had a 3-1 lead in a game that had felt mostly even, and maybe a little more tilted towards New York.

The third opened with Abby Roque making a little PWHL history, scoring on The Michigan, with Philips clearly not expecting that move.

But Ottawa answered back with their speed, creating a 3-on-2. Jenner's shot was stopped by Schroeder, who kicked the rebound out into the slot. Shiann Darkangelo's shot was blocked, but the puck went to Vanišová who buried her hat-trick goal.

The next (and final) goal was also Ottawa, with Emily Clark sniping it home off a faceoff win.

Seeing their playoff hopes dwindling, the Sirens would pull their goalie with 5 minutes left in the game. Ottawa actually hit the post when Schroeder was first exiting her net, prompting her dive back towards the puck on her way to the bench, but after that Ottawa seemed content not to shoot at the net. Zoe Boyd and Jincy Roese each took (non-overlapping) penalties in those final 5 min, so Ottawa was defending 6-on-4, but they also got extended offensive zone time, and a jailbreak empty-netter would've been great. Either way, New York couldn't break through Philips and the Charge prevailed for the 5-2 win.

Overall Thoughts:

• Vanišová is super dangerous. Her goals this afternoon were a tip, a do-it-yourself wraparound, and a crash-the-net rebound. Having a goal scorer who is effective multiple ways is useful, and is also probably why she's third in goals league-wide.
• Philips is very quick on her feet. It's easy to see why she's made a name for herself, even while being stuck behind bigger names, first at Northeastern, then with Team USA, and now with the Charge. She's going to push to not be a backup next season, though that will likely have to be somewhere else.
• Not sure what was up with Zoe Boyd. She played a team-low 6:02, which was also her second-lowest of the season, and her main contribution was a late penalty. Anyway, Ottawa's gonna need a bit more from her to make the playoffs.
• Speaking of playoffs, the Charge are now two points out with a game in hand on Minnesota. This means if Ottawa wins out the stretch, they're in the playoffs. Wednesday, April 30 is the second-last game of the season against Minnesota. Here's hoping that's a season-determining game. (Or even better, an unimportant game because Minnesota has imploded and Ottawa's firmly in a playoff spot.)
• Next game is tonight, Tuesday, March 25, the second half of the home-and-home vs. New York. Puck drop is at 7 pm, identical to the the Sens-Sabres game, because of course it is.