The Ottawa Charge needed a win to bounce back from a tough home loss to Boston, and they delivered with a decisive 5-2 victory over the New York Sirens. Despite early inconsistencies, which have been a recurring issue for the team, the Charge put together a strong effort on the road, fuelled by Tereza Vanišová’s hat trick and a stellar 34-save performance from goaltender Gwyneth Philips.

Special teams played a role early in the game, as Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner opened the scoring with a power play goal, giving the Charge a 1-0 lead after the first period. New York answered back at the 11-minute mark of the second, as Ella Shelton found the back of the net on the power play to even the score.

However, from that point on, it was the Tereza Vanišová show. The Czech forward netted two unanswered goals, her 11th and 12th of the season, to give Ottawa a 3-1 lead heading into the third period.

New York pushed back early in the final frame with a historic goal from Abby Roque, who became the first player in PWHL history to score a "Michigan" goal. The lacrosse-style move brought the Sirens back to within one, but Ottawa quickly regained control.

Vanišová completed her hat trick with her 13th of the season, re-establishing the Charge’s two-goal advantage. Emily Clark sealed the game with a quick snipe off a clean faceoff win from Gabbie Hughes, solidifying Ottawa’s 5-2 victory.

The Ottawa Charge's third-period performance was particularly impressive. They looked far more confident with the puck, their passing was crisp, and they controlled the pace of play—something they’ll aim to replicate as the season winds down. With the win, Ottawa now sits just two points behind Minnesota in the standings.

Ottawa will look to build on this momentum as they return home for a rematch against the Sirens on Tuesday. If they can carry over the energy and execution they displayed in the third period, they’ll be in a strong position to secure another crucial three points in the standings.