Wednesday, April 2, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. ET | Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
WATCH LIVE: NESN+, TSN 5, TSN.ca, TSN App, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
David Korzeniowski (Play-by-Play), Gigi Marvin (Analyst), Natalie Noury (Reporter)
OTTAWA CHARGE
10-1-4-11 | 36 PTS | 5TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Tereza Vanišová – 26 GP, 15-5-20 PTS
Last Game: 2-1 W at BOS (in St. Louis) on Mar. 29
BOSTON FLEET
8-6-4-8 | 40 PTS | 3RD PLACE
Top Scorer: Hilary Knight – 26 GP, 15-13-28 PTS
Last Game: 2-1 L vs. OTT (in St. Louis) on Mar. 29
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: BOSTON LEADS 10-5 IN POINTS (BOS WON 9-6 IN 2024)
Dec. 17 at BOS: 3-2 BOS | Jan. 11 at OTT: 2-1 BOS (OT) | Feb. 20 at OTT: 3-2 BOS (OT) | Mar. 15 at OTT: 5-2 BOS | Mar. 29 at BOS (ST. LOUIS): 2-1 OTT
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
This is Ottawa’s third time playing a team in back-to-back games in the last month. The Charge played the Frost twice in five days (Mar. 7/11) and the Sirens in four days (Mar. 22/25) with split results in both instances. Boston won back-to-back games against New York (Jan. 31 and Feb. 12) and also beat the Sirens twice in seven days (Feb. 17/23) with a game against Ottawa in between.
The Charge won their most recent matchup against the Fleet, 2-1, scoring both goals in the final four minutes of the third period. It was Ottawa’s first win against Boston this season and their first victory in five neutral site games all-time. Four of the five games between these two teams this season have been decided by one goal (excluding shootouts), the most of any matchup in the PWHL.
Ottawa’s 2-1 victory against Boston was their seventh win this season by a one-goal margin. That is tied for the most such wins by any PWHL team this season (Montréal).
Tereza Vanišová, the PWHL’s Second Star of the Week, scored two goals and had four shots on goal in her last game against Boston, the third time that she has reached those marks in a game this season. That is tied with Fleet captain Hilary Knight for most in the PWHL this season. The Czech forward’s two goals were scored in 32 seconds to set a record for the fastest two goals by a player in PWHL history and gives her the most points in the head-to-head season series with five (4G, 1A).
Vanišová enters tonight riding a career-high four-game point streak (6G, 1A), while teammates Brianne Jenner (2G, 2A) and Gabbie Hughes (4A) have season-high three-game point streaks.
Gwyneth Philips has made four straight starts for the Charge and leads all PWHL rookie goaltenders with 11 appearances and 231 saves. Three of her nine starts have been against Boston, posting a 1-0-1-1 record with a 1.99 GAA and .921 SV% against her former Northeastern teammate and current Team USA partner Aerin Frankel.
Boston returns to the Tsongas Center for the first time since Mar. 18 where they have won seven of their eight games this season. That is tied for the second-most victories by one PWHL team at any arena this season (Toronto at Coca-Cola Coliseum) behind Montréal’s eight at Place Bell.
Susanna Tapani scored the lone goal for the Fleet on Saturday, which was her third unassisted goal of the season. That is tied with the Sceptres’ Blayre Turnbull and Daryl Watts for most in the PWHL this season. The Finnish forward has a career-high three-game point streak (2G, 3A).
Frankel has recorded at least 20 saves in 20 of her 21 games this season, including 28 in her last game against Ottawa. Those 20 such games are the most in the PWHL this season. She has started all five games of the season series against Ottawa, posting four wins with a 1.78 GAA and .930 SV%.
Jillian Dempsey returns to the lineup tonight after re-joining the Fleet’s active roster. Boston has recorded a point in all eight games the forward has played in this season (4-2-2-0).
The Boston Bruins hosted a Women in Sports Night on Tuesday, including an in-game spotlight and broadcast interview with Fleet defender Jessica DiGirolamo.
Toronto can become the second team to clinch a berth in the PWHL Playoffs if Boston beats Ottawa or if the Charge beat the Fleet in a shootout tonight.
Tonight’s game is the fourth-last for both teams and the final PWHL matchup before the schedule pauses for the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Seventeen players from these two teams will be among the PWHL’s 57 players representing their countries in the top division tournament in Czechia Apr. 9-20, with four players on Team USA and four on Team Canada. Boston (5) and Ottawa (4) lead all PWHL teams with nine of the league’s 18 international representatives.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We stayed our course and managed two goals in 32 seconds at the end of our game against the Fleet in St. Louis. We’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet the same opponent in back-to-back games lately, which gives it a playoff feel. We mismanaged an opportunity against New York, winning the first game and getting ourselves in a nice spot with 20 minutes remaining (3-0 lead). The important thing is we need to learn from that. We moved forward in the last period against Boston. We took the game over in the third and we need to carry that in three periods on Wednesday.” – Charge Head Coach Carla MacLeod.
“It was fun to be in St. Louis, but obviously not the outcome we wanted. Our emphasis has been on putting together a full 60-minutes. It’s been good to get back home and re-group for the game Wednesday.” - Fleet forward Hannah Brandt.
WEDNESDAY’S GAME: The Fleet are hosting their Pride Unity Game, presented by e.l.f., celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with special guests, activations, and partnerships with local organizations. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. there will be a Pride Networking Mixer, open to all fans, hosted by Greater Lowell Pride. Throughout the game, a special edition Pride logo will be highlighted, designed by Hamilton, Ontario-based artist Eli, a queer and transgender creative whose work is deeply rooted in themes of identity, resilience and self-expression. Fleet players will be representing the logo for walk-ins prior to the game. The ceremonial puck drop will be performed by UMass Lowell Chancellor, Julie Chen, a trailblazer and proud member and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. On the concourse, fans can interact with Greater Lowell Pride, Lesbian Boston Newsletter, Granite Pride New Hampshire, Queer Scouts and Mass Equality; all local organizations championing equality throughout New England. During the first intermission, LQBTQ+ groups in attendance will be participating in the team’s second annual Pride Parade on the ice.