PWHL Ottawa dropped their fifth straight, this time to PWHL Minnesota 2-1 at home, sinking to last overall.
On Saturday afternoon, PWHL Ottawa dropped their fifth straight loss, falling to Minnesota with 2-1. Despite outshooting Minnesota 29-24, the team failed to equalize in the third to bring it to overtime. Though it has been a while since their last game, the team still remains positive.
“I thought we were incredibly physical and we worked our tails off,” said head coach Carla MacLeod. "We were motoring tonight and that’s what we asked, the final touch is that we have to put the puck in the net.”
While both teams were getting up to game speed, a Katerina Mrazova boarding penalty would send Ottawa to the penalty kill. A solid two-minute sequence gave Ottawa some more fuel for the rest of the period. Ottawa started to create more dangerous chances, such as slot shots from Daryl Watts, Brianne Jenner and Mrazova. Starting once again in net for Ottawa, Emerance Maschmeyer made a windmill save off of a Denisa Krizova wrist shot. Ottawa was controlling play, until a mistake late in the first period. As Savannah Harmon played the puck at the Ottawa blueline, Ashton Bell collided with her, and both players fell to the ice. Sophia Kunin jumped on the puck and went alone on Maschmeyer, sliding the puck through her five hole.
Ottawa picked up the pace in the second, and both Maschmeyer and Nicole Hensley were standing tall in the net. With momentum on their side, Ottawa started an elite passing sequence that allowed them to tie the game up at two. Gabbie Hughes fed a pass to Boulier streaking in on the right side, and she found Emily Clark on the backdoor for the tap in. After a slower start, Clark has accumulated three points in her last three games. Ottawa was outshooting Minnesota 13-5 in the second period, looking to close it out with a 1-1 tie. But a point shot from Maggie Flaherty went towards the net, deflecting onto the stick of Grace Zumwinkle who had clear shot towards the net. In a right place, right time scenario, Zumwinkle scored her seventh of the year to put Minnesota up 2-1.
The third period was mostly a quiet sequence, with Minnesota tightening up on defense. The away team managed to outshoot Ottawa 8-5, with Ottawa’s best chances coming in the final minute of the third period. Brianne Jenner got a stick on the puck following a point shot, but her shot deflected to the corner. Minnesota cleared it down the ice and iced the game, improving to 5-2-2-2. They sit 1st in the standings, four points ahead of second place Montreal.
For Ottawa, they’re on a slide that no team wants to go through. It has been a while since their last win, dating back to January 23rd against Toronto.
Defender Amanda Boulier remains aware of what’s at stake as the league approaches it’s halfway point.
“There’s definitely some frustration,” she said. “We know we’re playing really great hockey right now and today we dominated most of the game.”
Many of the Ottawa players have echoed their appreciation for the fans support, with six of their nine games played at TD Place this year. With a record of 1-0-3-2, Boulier is thankful for their optimism during some tough losses.
“They’re in it all game long,” she said. “I know we haven’t won as many games as we would have liked at home but the fact that they keep coming back, we’re just really proud to play in front of them.”
The team will head out on the road for a little bit, with a three-game trip upcoming. They’ll be away from the TD Place crowd as well and will be on their own to snap a tough losing streak. With this loss, Ottawa falls to a record of 2-0-4-3.
“We’re in the same boat together,” said head coach Carla MacLeod “We’re feeling the same level of frustration making sure as a staff that were giving them everything, they need to be successful. They’re all in on this and so are we and we’re going to figure it out together.”
In only two days, Ottawa will play Boston at Tsongas Center on Monday at 4:30pm EST.