Brianne Jenner clinched the decisive goal in the eighth round of the shootout, leading the Ottawa Charge to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Fleet on Saturday in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Gwyneth Philips, with 34 saves during regulation and overtime, excelled by denying six shooters in the shootout for Ottawa.
Aerin Frankel, making 30 saves, put up a strong performance but was bested by Jenner in consecutive attempts during the shootout.
Both goaltenders, former teammates at Northeastern University, are expected to be key players for the American women’s team at the upcoming Olympic Games.
Captain Brianne Jenner sealed the shootout victory in the eighth round as the Fleet secured their third consecutive extra-time win, defeating Boston in Ottawa.
The Fleet (6-0-1-1) currently lead the standings, having only conceded eight goals, while Ottawa (1-3-0-5) is in seventh place.
Trailing 2-1, Ottawa capitalized on a defensive turnover. Fanuza Kadirova drove to the net and slipped a puck through the five-hole, which eventually crossed the goal line with just under three minutes left in regulation, igniting the sold-out crowd.
In the second period, the Fleet equalized the score at 1-1 when Olivia Mobley capitalized on a Susanna Tapani rebound that eluded Philips in front of the net.
Boston surged ahead 2-1 with less than 19 seconds remaining in the period.
After Philips saved a Megan Keller slapshot, Boston regained possession, and Haley Winn scored with a wrist shot past Philips’ glove side.
Despite being outshot 15-8, the Charge led 1-0 after the first period, with Stephanie Markowski scoring her first goal of the season off a Gabbie Hughes pass.
This game marked Ottawa’s first home game in 25 days after a stretch of five consecutive away matches.
Key Takeaways
Charge: Ottawa needs to improve its defensive coverage to reduce close-range shots faced by Philips.
Fleet: Boston excels in keeping opponents to the outside, limiting close-range shot opportunities.
Key Stat
After eight games, Ottawa has conceded the most goals in the league, totaling 26.
Key Moment
Philips made a crucial save on Theresa Schafzahl with 90 seconds remaining in overtime.