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The Ottawa Charge squandered another opportunity and now face an uphill battle to make the post-season.
The Charge, who have now lost three straight, had the chance to climb into the fourth and final playoff spot in the PWHL standings, but fell 5-3 to the last-place Seattle Torrent on Wednesday. Seattle was playing the second game of a back-to-back set.
The Charge are now set to take on the Toronto Sceptres in a game with huge playoff implications for both teams on Saturday. Toronto sits one point ahead of Ottawa for fourth with a game in hand.
“Did we have an opportunity to go and get three points? We sure did,” said interim head coach Haley Irwin. “We sure did, and we didn’t quite do that tonight. We’ve got to take it and we’ve got to learn from it and see what areas we just need to tighten up on and what we need to keep doing well.”
Since the Charge have returned from the Olympic break, goaltender Gwyneth Philips has started all 10 games and is facing an average of 28.1 shots-per-game. Philips represented the United States at the Olympic Games.
While Philips has been good, she has let in some goals that are uncharacteristic of her.
Irwin was asked if there was any concern about the workload her goaltender has been carrying, especially considering the importance of the final four games.
Natalie Snodgrass scored the game-winning goal with 1:21 left in the third period, as the Seattle Torrent beat the Ottawa Charge 5-3.
“No, she’s a pro,” said Irwin. “She’s very good. She’s very athletic. She’s not the only goalie that plays this much. We know she can handle it, and we don’t have any concerns from that end.”
Philips will need to be at her best Saturday.
The Sceptres lead the season series with two regulation wins and one overtime loss. In addition to Saturday’s game, the two will face off in the regular-season finale.
Ottawa could also use a boost from its power play, which has gone 2-for-16 over its last five games.
Discipline will be key for the Charge. Ottawa took four minor penalties Wednesday and the Torrent capitalized with the go-ahead goal.
“Yeah, there was a few penalties that we could have avoided,” said Irwin. “There’s no doubt about that, and we talked about it as a group, those avoidable penalties, we need to avoid moving forward.”
In many ways, this is familiar territory for the Charge.
It came down to the very last game for Ottawa in missing the post-season thanks to a loss to Toronto in the PWHL’s inaugural season. Last season, the Charge clinched a playoff spot in the regular-season finale with an overtime win over Toronto.
“Our locker room’s amazing,” said forward Gabbie Hughes. “So, I think if we can just stick together and continue to know we love each other and we’re playing for each other, and let that just take precedent for the next four games I have absolutely no doubt that this team will pull through.
“We’ve just got to commit to doing the right things every single shift, but with this group, I have no doubt.”
