Charge earn playoff berth with overtime victory over Sceptres

By Sebastian Zucchet

The Ottawa Charge punched their ticket to the Walter Cup Playoffs Saturday as they defeated their provincial rivals the Toronto Sceptres 2-1 in overtime at Coca-Cola Coliseum on the final day of the regular season in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).

The game was a must-win for Ottawa if they wanted to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, after missing out in the inaugural season, setting the stage for a tense game from the get-go.

“The main message from the coaching staff to the players was ‘Let's go win this, let’s go get this done,’” said Charge head coach Carla MacLeod.

In the first period both teams seemed to feel each other out, with little to show in terms of big chances. It was a very lacklustre period that resulted in only four shots for each team after the first twenty.

A few minutes into the second period, both teams started to find their feet and bring some energy into the game, especially the Charge. Ottawa took control of the period, generating the better of the chances, but with just under eight minutes to go in the middle frame, the Sceptres struck first.

Renata Fast picked up the puck and skated through the Ottawa zone where she found Sarah Nurse all alone in front of the net. Nurse spun around, brought the puck onto her forehand and roofed it on Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips. The Hamilton, Ont, product’s sixth of the season put Ottawa in a spot they didn’t want to be in.

Ottawa didn’t fret though, as captain Brianne Jenner brought the game back to even less than a minute later. Tereza Vanisova threw the puck to the front of the net, seemingly intended for Shiann Darkangelo, but it found Jenner instead and she flipped it in the top of the net from a tough angle.

From there, Ottawa found some life and continued to put pressure on Toronto, but Kristen Campbell kept the door shut. Campbell became the fourth goalie in PWHL history to reach 1000 saves during the game, emphasizing her impact for the Sceptres over the past two years. Ottawa remained dominant for the rest of the period.

Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan described the second period as “ugly” from his team.

The third period was a tossup from both teams. Ottawa were getting desperate and needed goals, while Toronto were trying to win the game and end the season on a high note.

“Ottawa obviously played with a little more emotion with their backs against the wall,” said Ryan.

Ottawa desperately needed a goal but instead Gabbie Hughes took a penalty with less than four minutes left that sent the Sceptres to the power play. With the player advantage, the Sceptres had their best chances of the game, almost putting the puck in the net multiple times. Nevertheless, Philips came up with some huge saves late that helped push the game to overtime, earning praise from MacLeod post-game.

“She’s been great all year for us, I don’t think they can put a number cap on how impactful she’s been in every opportunity she’s been able to take and run with our group,” said MacLeod.

Securing a point from bringing the game to overtime, Ottawa were almost over the line, but not across it.

Katerina Mrazova was the overtime hero, as she skated into the Sceptres zone and showed great patience, waiting for Maggie Connors to drop down to cut off a pass, maneuvering around her and scoring the goal to seal off an impressive win and a playoff berth for Ottawa.

Mrazova, who had come off of Long-Term Injury Reserve recently, was mobbed by her ecstatic teammates in the corner.

“It’s not easy to come back after the injury, just really happy I can play, working hard. That’s the point for me, just focusing shift by shift, and game by game,” said Mrazova.

MacLeod is full of confidence in her team and says they have been working all season to prepare for a playoff push.

“This is a group that, throughout the season, just built confidence and really started to embrace everything,” she said.

Ottawa did get it done. The playoff matchups haven’t been set yet, but both Toronto and Ottawa are in, with Toronto having home ice advantage against their opponent in round one.

UP NEXT: The PWHL playoffs start Wednesday, May 7. Toronto will be in action against either the Charge or the Minnesota Frost.