Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. ET | The Arena at TD Place
WATCH LIVE: Prime Video (Canada), PWHL YouTube (U.S. / International)
Daniella Ponticelli (Play-by-Play), Becky Kellar (Analyst), Rob Pizzo (Reporter)
TORONTO SCEPTRES
1-0-0-0 | 3 PTS | 1ST PLACE
Top Scorer: Daryl Watts – 1 GP, 0-2-2 PTS
Last Game: 3-1 W vs BOS on Nov. 30
OTTAWA CHARGE
0-0-1-0 | 1 PTS | 4TH PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: 6 players tied with one point each
Last Game: 4-3 SOL at MTL on Nov. 30
2024 SEASON SERIES: OTTAWA WON 9-6 IN POINTS
Jan. 13 at TOR: 5-1 OTT | Jan. 23 at OTT: 3-1 OTT | Mar. 2 at OTT: 5-2 TOR | Mar. 23 at OTT: 5-3 OTT | May 5 at TOR: 5-2 TOR
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Toronto had a winning record against every team during the inaugural season but Ottawa, however spoiled the Charge’s playoff hopes with a 5-2 victory in the regular season finale.
The Sceptres opened with a 3-1 win at home against Boston Saturday to extend their home winning streak to 10 games (dating back to last regular season). Toronto went 5-3-0-4 on the road last season, with the most road wins in the PWHL.
Sarah Nurse opened the Sceptres season with a shorthanded ‘Jailbreak’ goal, the first of her career. Dating back to last season, Nurse has scored 8G in her last 7GP (after 4G in her first 18 GP last season). She scored 2G, 3A in her final 3GP against Ottawa.
Daryl Watts was the only Sceptres player with multiple points in the opener. Watts tied for fourth in the league with 10 goals last season while playing for Ottawa. However, half of those goals came against Toronto (including her only hat trick, Mar. 23). That hat trick was the only time Watts scored in Ottawa last season (her other seven goals were on the road) and ended Toronto’s 11-game win streak.
Kristen Campbell is coming off an 18-save win on her 27th birthday and has a 2-2 record all-time against Ottawa.
Ottawa won three of its five games against Toronto last season. The Charge’s first ever win (Jan. 13) and first ever home win (Jan. 23) were both against Toronto. Ottawa’s high for goals last season was five, with both games coming against Toronto.
The Charge lost their season opener in a shootout against Montréal on Saturday, 4-3, despite a career-high 42 saves from Emerance Maschmeyer (her high last season was 34). She led PWHL goalies in games, minutes played, shots against and saves last season.
Emily Clark scored the Charge’s first goal of the season and led the team in shots on goal (five) and hits (four) in the season opener. Clark owns a four-game point streak against Toronto (which included her first career PWHL goal, Jan. 23).
Picking up where Ottawa left off last season, Tereza Vanišová scored on one of the three Charge power plays (33.3%) on Saturday. The Charge led the PWHL on the PP (25%) in 2024.
Rebecca Leslie will be making her homecoming. The Ottawa native was signed by Ottawa after playing in Toronto last season. Forward Alexa Vasko will also be facing her former team after signing a free agent contract with the Charge.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I’m looking forward to playing again and for us to keep building off of our last game. Ottawa’s fans are really passionate, so I’m sure the atmosphere will be great and fun to play in.” – Sceptres leading scorer Daryl Watts.
“I’ve never played a home game here in Ottawa, so I am excited about getting a taste for the fans and the support they bring. I know the home crowd kind of helped out Montréal in different ways last Saturday. I know Ottawa will be doing the same thing. Hopefully we walk away with our first win of the season.” – Charge rookie Danielle Serdachny.
TUESDAY’S GAME: Celebrating their city and their fans, the Ottawa Charge are forging a new identity this season with a new name and logo and hit the ice at TD Place for the first time in the 2024-25 PWHL season. Fans electrified TD Place with their energy last season and will get a chance to boost their team with rally towels placed on every seat in the house. Opening night sponsored by PWHL Founding Partner Canadian Tire will have a poster making station from the campaign - My Team, My Sign - outside section 27 on the concourse. There will be two merchandise stores open at Gate 2 and Gate 3. New season ticket members will have their own entrance at Gate 1. Pauline Doucet debuts as the new public address announcer. Allegra Nocita will sing the National Anthem.