Sometimes a hockey game goes so hilariously bad that you find yourself staring at the screen on a Wednesday evening wondering why you let this sport consume your free time. A less punishing hobby briefly sounds appealing, but with a third of the season to go and the Charge still very much in the playoff picture, there’s no checking out just yet.<\/p>\n
Charge (0) at Frost (5)<\/p>\n
The Charge entered this game with a bit of a lineup shuffle. Presumably Carla MacLeod was trying to spark something, but Wednesday’s result was not a strong endorsement of this round of experimentation.<\/p>\n
Things went sideways almost immediately when Taylor Heise beat Gwyneth Philips just 27 seconds in off Minnesota’s first shot. It was a flukey bounce that made for a bad start that was soon to get worse. <\/p>\n
Phillips was pulled after the Frost struck twice in 11 seconds, with Zumwinkle and Pannek scoring to make it 3-0. Visibly frustrated, it marked just the second time in her PWHL career she had been pulled from a game. Kendra Woodland stepped into the crease for her first PWHL action and was greeted almost immediately by a Kaitlyn O’Donohoe, who scored her first career goal to cap a brutal opening frame.<\/p>\n
The biggest highlight of the night was Woodland herself. Considering it was her first game since suiting up for the University of New Brunswick in February 2024, and that she was thrown into a less than ideal situation, she was admirably composed and looked competent in net. She finished with a .875 SV% and was able to stop the bleeding by the midway point of the game, with Kelly Pannek scoring what proved to be the final goal 15 minutes into the second. Woodland faced 16 shots in just over 45 minutes, making for a respectable debut under the circumstances.<\/p>\n
Another silver lining was the Charge penalty kill, which was able to shut down all four of Minnesota’s advantages. The flip side, of course, is that the Charge found themselves shorthanded four times in the first place, a recurring issue that has dogged this team all season. Penalty trouble is a habit they can’t seem to shake, even in games where they simply cannot afford a disadvantage. <\/p>\n
Offensively, they didn’t have much to offer. Ottawa managed just 15 shots on net to Minnesota’s 24, struggling to keep possession and generate anything particularly threatening. Some of that can be chalked up to the deflating effect of that early stretch of bad luck, though it’s worth noting that poor starts have been something of a recurring theme this season.<\/p>\n
While not the end of the world, this was certainly a game to forget.<\/p>\n
Playoff Picture<\/p>\n
There’s still a third of the regular season to go, but scoreboard-watching has slowly crept in. The Charge are in a decent position despite some inconsistencies and congested midfield standings. They currently sit fifth in the league with 28 points and a game in hand on the fourth-place Sceptres, who boast 31 points. The Sirens, meanwhile, are just behind in sixth with 27 points.<\/p>\n