Quick strike Fleet hang on to beat Charge in Game 1
It was exactly the type of game we expected, with the winning requiring a couple of timely goals to come out on top.
The first game of the Walter Cup Playoffs saw two of the best defenses in the PWHL go at it on Thursday night, as the Boston Fleet hosted the Ottawa Charge in Game 1 of its semifinal series. While the scrappy Charge kept things close, the Fleet put in a couple of goals in quick succession to grab a 2-1 victory.
For just about the entire game, the Fleet certainly looked like the better team, putting loads of pressure on Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips. Even when the home side fell behind, they continued to press on. They were finally rewarded late in the second period, thanks to a couple of dandy plays. With just over two minutes to go in the frame, Alina Muller got free and absolutely sniped on Philips to tie the game at one. Then, 91 seconds later, Jamie Lee Rattray, on a great individual effort, snuck a shot through the five-hole of Philips, bringing the fans in Lowell to their feet.
It was the veteran’s first postseason goal in the PWHL.
The Charge tried to bounce back in the third, but hardly created any quality scoring chances, leading to a 1-0 deficit in the best-of-five series.
Another story from Game 1 was the physicality, as both teams tried to establish dominance from the get-go. However, Fleet defender Rylind MacKinnon went a little overboard. With just a few minutes left in the opening period, she caught Charge forward Gabbie Hughes with a high hit that sent the latter spiraling down to the ice.
After a video review, a five-minute major penalty for an illegal check to the head was confirmed, with MacKinnon also receiving a game misconduct. After briefly chatting with the team’s training staff on the bench, Hughes went down the tunnel, but did return in the second period.
With the major power play, the Charge went to work as a pair of blueliners connected. A point shot from rookie Rory Guilday was tipped in by Jocelyne Larocque for the first goal of the series.
The teams combined for 11 penalties spanning 31 minutes. The Fleet failed to score on five chances on the power play, while the Charge went just 1-for-6.
The Fleet led the Charge in hits, 18-11, with forward Jill Saulnier accounting for four checks in the contest.
Boston also outshot Ottawa, 28-18. The score would’ve been far more lopsided had Philips not been there. The second-year netminder might’ve lost the first postseason battle against her Team USA teammate, but not for a lack of trying. Philips made 26 saves in the losing effort, including this 10-bell stop in the opening minutes of the contest.
Aerin Frankel needed to make a measly 17 stops on Thursday night.
As I stated earlier, this was what we expected, with the Fleet being the better team and the Charge hanging around. However, Ottawa needs to find a way to make Frankel’s life a little bit tougher if the team ever wants to break through offensively. Granted, Boston’s defense did an excellent job at eliminating any second chances, something the Charge will need if they want to score more than just one on the best goaltender in the world.
The Charge will try to earn a split in Lowell on Saturday night, with Game 2 scheduled to start a little after 7 p.m. ET.
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