Brianne Jenner secured the decisive goal in the eighth round of the shootout, leading the Ottawa Charge to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Saturday afternoon.
Gwyneth Philips, making 34 saves during regulation and overtime, showcased her skills by denying six shooters in the shootout for Ottawa. On the other end, Aerin Frankel, with 30 saves to her name, put up an impressive performance but couldn’t stop Jenner from scoring back-to-back goals in the shootout.
Both goaltenders, former teammates at Northeastern University, are expected to play crucial roles in leading the American women’s team at the upcoming Olympic Games.
Ottawa Charge emerged victorious over the Boston Fleet in an intense 8-round shootout, with Captain Brianne Jenner sealing the deal as the Fleet secured their third consecutive extra-time win.
The Fleet (6-0-1-1) currently leads the standings, having only conceded eight goals so far, while Ottawa (1-3-0-5) holds the seventh position.
In a dramatic turn of events, Ottawa capitalized on a defensive turnover, leading to Fanuza Kadirova’s goal in the dying moments of the game, tying the score at 2-2.
The Fleet managed to level the game at 1-1 in the second period through Olivia Mobley, who capitalized on a rebound from Susanna Tapani that eluded Philips.
Boston took a late 2-1 lead with less than 20 seconds left in the period, as Haley Winn’s shot found the back of the net after a Megan Keller slapshot was saved by Philips.
Despite being outshot 15-8, the Charge held a 1-0 lead after the first period, courtesy of Stephanie Markowski’s goal off a Gabbie Hughes pass.
This game marked Ottawa’s return home after a 25-day stretch on the road, playing their first home game.
Key observations from the match include Ottawa’s need to improve defensive positioning to reduce close-range shots for Philips, while Boston’s success lies in keeping opponents to the perimeter, limiting close-range opportunities.
Ottawa has conceded the most goals in the league, with 26 goals allowed in eight games, highlighting a key area for improvement.
A pivotal moment in the game was Philips’ crucial save on Theresa Schafzahl with 90 seconds left in overtime.
Looking ahead, Ottawa will face off against the Minnesota Frost at home next Saturday, while Boston is set to host the Vancouver Goldeneyes in their upcoming game.
