Ottawa dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the league-leading Boston Fleet in their first game back from the Olympic break, with consistency again proving to be their biggest opportunity.
The Ottawa Charge returned from the Olympic break on Saturday to face the league-leading Boston Fleet in front of 8,572 fans at TD Place, the largest crowd of the season. Unlike their previous two meetings this year, it was Boston who came away with the shootout win, 3-2.
Rebecca Leslie's two goals in 1:56 gave Ottawa the lead in the third, before Alina Müller's power play goal tied it and sent things to overtime, where Boston ultimately came away with the win following another lengthy shootout. It was the third consecutive shootout between these two teams this season, with the Charge now 2-1 in those meetings.
Those two third period goals from Leslie bring her season total to 10, and 16 points overall, moving her into a tie atop the PWHL scoring leaderboard with Minnesota’s Kendall Coyne Schofield and teammate Brianne Jenner.
Boston head coach Kris Sparre didn't seem surprised.
"We should just stop wasting everyone's time and go right to a shootout at the start," Sparre said. "It's a dog fight when we play this team. It's always a tough night when we play against Ottawa."
For captain Brianne Jenner, the result reflected something bigger.
"I thought our third period was good, but I don't think that was our best hockey," Jenner said. "I think we looked pretty disorganized. I thought the effort was there, but I think we have to find a way to get back to a better overall game."
Head coach Carla MacLeod saw similar things, noting a strong first period before the Charge lost their momentum in the second. The third-period energy was there, she said, but it wasn't enough to hold the lead.
"It's simple, smart hockey," MacLeod said. "This game's not super complex, you just have to deliver that simplicity with a level of consistency."
That consistency will be tested in March. Ottawa faces a tough stretch that starts with a home game against Seattle on Wednesday, followed by four road games and a neutral-site home game in Winnipeg.