It’s official: the Ottawa Charge are headed to the PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs for the second straight season. By virtue of a 3-0 win on Saturday, the Charge secured the fourth and final playoff spot. All of their playoff home games will be played at the Canadian Tire Centre.
A tightly-battled contest between the Charge and fifth-place Toronto Sceptres took it down to the last minute as the teams competed Saturday afternoon. The Charge had the upper-hand entering the game, knowing that with a win or any sort of overtime/shootout decision, they’d be in.
The Sceptres, meanwhile, needed to win in regulation in order to make it to the postseason – not an impossible task by any means, but certainly trickier.
After a scoreless first period, Fanuza Kadirova broke the stalemate just 4:08 into the second period. Kadirova’s 10th goal of the season came at just the right time to tip the scales in the Charge’s favor.
Sarah Wozniewicz added an insurance marker just 1:03 into the third, and Alexa Vasko potted an empty-netter with under five to play. As expected, Gwyneth Philips was strong in net for the Charge. She stopped all 41 shots faced, including 19 in the second period. To her credit, Raygan Kirk also played well and make some key saves for the Sceptres, stopping 29 of 31.
Now, the Charge will look ahead to their second playoff appearance in franchise history. Ottawa’s opponent in the first round, best-of-five series is still to be determined. Right now, all we know is that it won’t be the third-place Frost.
Tonight’s Victoire game will determine who takes the first-overall seed – either Montréal or Boston. That team will then have the choice between facing the Frost or the Charge. The selection will be unveiled Sunday, with full playoff schedules to follow.
Either way, the Charge will start the PWHL playoffs on the road. Boston’s series begins on Thursday, April 30, while the Victoire series begins in Montréal on May 2.
Last season, the Charge finished the regular season third overall, beating the Montréal Victoire in a four-game first round matchup. The Charge then took the Walter Cup Final to four games, ultimately losing to the champion Minnesota Frost.
Five of Ottawa’s eight playoff games last season went to overtime, including a record-settling five-and-a-half hour long game. All four of the Walter Cup Final games also went to overtime.
Stay tuned to The Ice Garden for full PWHL playoff coverage.