Ottawa Charge Recap: Week 9

They still don't look like a playoff team, but at least we're getting some signs of life from the Charge after the break for the rivalry series.

Last Week: Minnesota 3, Ottawa 8

• After the last few games the Charge played before the international break, I would not blame anyone who opted not to watch this game, or approached it with a healthy amount of scepticism. This team has been a rough watch lately.
• That’s why it’s so cool that they managed to pull off such a dominant win!
• They opened the game on a good note, with Manon McMahon then Gabbie Hughes putting the Charge ahead early in the game.
• Unfortunately, Minnesota tied the game before the end of the first period. It felt entirely expected for anyone who watches this team at all. Of course they couldn’t hold the lead.
• The game looked pretty even at that point. The Charge were holding their own, but it felt like it could end up being another big loss for Ottawa.
• Once again, though, the Charge surprised us with a flurry of goals early in the second. Hughes got her second of the game, then Vanisova got one shortly afterward, chasing the Minnesota goaltender.
• The new goalie didn’t make any difference. Vanisova scored the next goal too, meaning that we now had two players on hat trick watch.
• Victoria Bach then scored before the end of the second period, sending the Charge into the locker room with a healthy 6-2 lead.
• Ottawa sat on the lead a bit for the first half of the third period, but Captain Brianne Jenner eventually made the score 7-2.
• Finally, Gabbie Hughes completed the hat trick!
• Minnesota got one more goal, but it was far too late in the game for it to matter at all.
• 8 goals in one game is actually a PWHL record! I never would have expected Ottawa to set that particular record, but I’m thrilled.
• Do I even need to say who was good? Hughes and Vanisova were the stars. Savolainen was a key part of the offense. Darkangelo had a great game. So did pretty much everyone else on the team.

Last Week: Toronto 3, Ottawa 2 (OT)

• The Charge took a trip to Edmonton this weekend, to face the Toronto Sceptres as part of the PWHL’s takeover tour. It was an especially big moment for local girls Emerance Maschmeyer and Danielle Serdachny.
• Ottawa seemed immediately determined to prove that the last game wasn’t a fluke. They looked sharp, and Gabbie Hughes opened the scoring just a few minutes in, on the game’s first powerplay.
• Unfortunately, the Sceptres came surging back in the second period, evening the score with goals from our toxic ex Daryl Watts and also Julia Gosling.
• Thankfully, Tereza Vanisova tied things up in the third period!
• Gabbie Hughes got injured in the third and had to go to the dressing room. Thankfully, she did return before the end of the game, so let’s hope it wasn’t anything serious. The last thing this team needs is more injuries.
• Of course, Watts had to deliver the killing blow, with the winning goal early in overtime. 
• As you all know, I was initially quite skeptical about the Larocque trade, but to her credit, the veteran defender had a very strong game.
• I actually thought the whole blueline played well. Savolainen threw a big hit toward the end of the game and got in trouble for it and was generally noticeable in a good way.
• As always, Maschmeyer was great.
• Vanisova and Clark were also big standouts - no surprises there!

The Week Ahead

• Ottawa will host the Boston Fleet on Thursday at 7pm, unfortunately overlapping with the highly anticipated USA-Canada matchup at the Four Nations Face-Off.
• Boston has pulled themselves together and is now in second place in the league, tied with Montreal and Minnesota. Ottawa can't change their position in the standings with a win, but that's exactly why they need this win.
• The Fleet have won both matchups between these teams this season, both by just one goal.
• You can watch that game on TSN
• Then, on Saturday the Charge host the Victoire for part 1 of an Ottawa-Montreal doubleheader.
• In the entire history of the PWHL, Ottawa has only beaten Montreal once. They are, of course, coming off a humiliating 4-1 loss.