Charge Claim Final Playoff Spot in Potential Last Game at TD Place

The Ottawa Charge are headed back to the playoffs, for the second straight year after shutting out the Toronto Sceptres at home. The Charge joined the Boston Fleet, Montreal Victoire, and Minnesota Frost in the post-season. Though we have to wait just a while longer to find out who will be playing who, as the battle for the number one seed continues tonight, that will put either the Fleet or Victoire on the clock, as they decide Frost or Charge for their opening round matchup. 

The evening also saw a major announcement for the Charge, after the Ottawa Senators were officially eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, that the Walter Cup Playoffs were headed to the Canadian Tire Center. The league has been vocal about arena changes to TD Place that are not sustainable for the PWHL’s long-term growth or fanbase in Ottawa. They have been working behind the scenes working on other possible options, with the Canadian Tire Center being the best opportunity for the team to stay in Ottawa. This announcement also means we may have just watched the last PWHL game at TD Place, as the location of the team hangs in the balance, and the Charge went out with a bang. 

Game Recap

Heading into the match the Toronto Sceptres needed a regulation win if they wanted to clinch their third-straight playoff berth, anything else and the spot belonged to Ottawa. 

Both teams got off to a hot start as they fought for the final playoff spot, however, the goalies quickly became the focus with Gwyneth Philips and Raygan Kirk shutting down the backend. After a heads up play from Michela Cava across to Fanuza Kadirova on the backdoor gave the Charge the lead, which they carried into the third. 

Doubling the league was the Wizard of Woz, Sarah Wozniewicz, backhanded off the feed from Brianne Jenner. With their playoff hopes coming to a close the Sceptres pulled their goalie, hoping to spark something up front, but it was Ottawa that would take advantage with Alexa Vasko, scoring the third of the afternoon, securing the Charge’s playoff berth. 

Stay tuned for more women’s hockey news as the countdown to playoffs continues.