Ottawa Charge fans were likely upset that Team Canada fell 2-1 to Team USA in a shootout, but should also be ecstatic over the play of American netminder Gwyneth Philips.
Ottawa Charge fans were likely upset that Team Canada fell 2-1 to Team USA in a shootout, but should also be ecstatic over the play of American netminder Gwyneth Philips.
Ottawa Charge fans, tonight was yet another example of what the future has in store between the pipes for this team, as Gwyneth Philips put on an absolute clinic in only her second outing with the American National team.
Making 31 saves, including stopping five shots in overtime and all three in the shootout, including the lethal Marie-Philip Poulin, Philips showcased time and time again why she was the consensus top goaltender heading into the 2024 PWHL Draft.
Canada led every period in shots on goal in this game, including a dominant first period (14-5) but remained held off the scoresheet and they had one person to thank for that– Gwyneth Philips. No matter the shot that was taken, the deflection that was made, the deke that was attempted, Philips was there and she made each save look routine.
What makes a player like Philips so unique is that there is no moment that is bigger than she is. She approaches every save with razor-like precision, never out of position, always able to control the rebound to her teammates and out of harm's way and that was on full display throughout tonight’s series-tying win. One quickly runs out of superlatives when trying to describe the goaltending show that was put on throughout tonight’s game.
These two teams reconvene one final time, for all the marbles, on Saturday evening in Summerside, PEI and when the final buzzer sounds and players return to their respective PWHL clubs, Ottawa will find themselves with a very good problem to have: two goaltenders who can both play at the highest of levels. No longer will the club find themselves in a position to lean heavily upon the shoulders of Emerance Maschmeyer, as they have done since the league’s inception.
Tonight demonstrated that they have a tandem which can rival the best in the league and if you were to have listened closely enough following the game, you would have heard the sound of every Ottawa Charge fan rejoicing and celebrating. And after a performance like the one put on tonight, Carla MacLeod knows there’s a tough decision to make once the season kicks off again on Thursday, February 13th, a home game against the Minnesota Frost, as there are valuable points on the board that need to be grabbed so the team can crawl their way out from the bottom of the PWHL standings and make the playoffs where a goalie like Philips can steal a series.