Tuesday, January 21, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. CT | Xcel Energy Center
WATCH LIVE: FanDuel Sports Network North, Prime Video (Canada), PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
Clay Matvick (Play-by-Play), Alexis Pearson (Analyst), Audra Martin (Reporter)
OTTAWA CHARGE
4-0-2-5 | 14 PTS | 4TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Tereza Vanišová – 11 GP, 3-3-6 PTS
Last Game: 2-1 L at MTL in Quebec City on Jan. 19
MINNESOTA FROST
4-3-2-3 | 20 PTS | 2ND PLACE
Top Scorers: Coyne Schofield (5-6) & Thompson (1-10)
Last Game: 4-2 L at MTL on Jan. 17
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: MINNESOTA LEADS 3-0 IN POINTS (MIN WON 10-5 IN 2024)
Dec. 19 at MIN: 5-2 MIN | Jan. 21 at MIN | Feb. 13 at OTT | Mar. 7 at MIN (RALEIGH) | Mar. 11 at OTT | Apr. 30 at OTT
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Ottawa (3-straight losses) and Minnesota (2-straight losses) look to get back into the win column tonight. The Frost notched a 5-2 home win over the Charge back on Dec. 19. The five goals were the most scored by a team in matchup history while the seven combined goals were also the most (excl. SO goals).
Tuesday’s game will be Ottawa’s eighth road game so far this season, two more than any other PWHL team. The Charge are averaging 1.43 points per road game this season compared to 1.00 at home. Last season, Ottawa had a points per game average of 1.25 on the road and 1.42 at home.
Shiann Darkangelo scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season against the Victoire on Sunday. Last season, she did not have a single goal in 24 games with Boston and Ottawa.
The State of Hockey has been a good source of talent for the Charge. Forward Gabbie Hughes (Lino Lakes), Mannon McMahon (Maple Grove) and Natalie Snodgrass (Eagan) all grew up playing on Minnesota’s frozen ponds. Ashton Bell and Jocelyne Larocque competed for the University of Minnesota-Duluth, as did assistant coach Haley Irwin. U18 gold medalist Marilou Grenier, a Quebec native and UMD commit, read the Charge’s starting line-up before Sunday’s Takeover Tour game.
Point-supplying defender Jincy Roese (2-3-5) returned to the lineup against Montréal after a three-game absence.
Minnesota fell 4-2 to Montréal on Friday but the Frost have won both of their games following a regulation loss this season (both wins in OT). Both of those wins came at Xcel Energy Center, which is where Tuesday’s game will be played.
Claire Thompson had her league-leading 10th assist of the season in Minnesota’s last game. The assist came on the power play as Thompson’s four power-play assists are tied for second most, behind only Montréal’s Erin Ambrose (five).
Minnesota’s Britta Curl-Salemme has scored five goals, tied with Sarah Fillier (NY) for most by a rookie this season. McMahon’s three goals are tied for third most by a PWHL rookie this season, along with Hannah Bilka (BOS) and Minnesota’s injured Dominique Petrie.
Minnesota’s contingent of Northeastern grads will be checking the scoreboard after the game as their alma mater takes on Boston University for the 46th Women’s Beanpot title. Huskies alumnae include Kendall Coyne Schofield, Denisa Křīžovā and Katy Knoll. Ottawa's Gwyneth Philips won three Beanpot titles with the Huskies, while the Charge also have a pair of former Terriers in Victoria Bach and Rebecca Leslie.
On Monday, the Frost hosted the Minneapolis – St. Paul DinoMights - a small youth hockey organization working with inner-city kids to develop physical, academic, social and spiritual excellence. Frost players skated with the DinoMights during practice and signed autographs following the session.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“It's (limiting shots) been an area of focus for us. Emerance Maschmeyer and Gwyneth Philips have had too much work. Now, we're grateful they're as great as they are at their job so they've been holding us in games, but certainly the objective has been to eliminate the high end chances and trying to make their nights a little bit easier knowing that good chances are going to be created in this league because every team is so good.” - Charge Head Coach Carla MacLeod.
“We’re happy to be home, we have had a lot of tough games, and we know our fans will give us energy. Ottawa plays a 200-foot game, and we will have to be sharp with our puck management tonight against another good team.” - Frost Head Coach Ken Klee.
TUESDAY’S GAME: The Frost drop the puck on a three-game homestand and will honor those who play the toughest position in all of sport with their Goalie Appreciation Night. Youth goaltenders will serve as Blue Line Buddies during the pre-game introductions and national anthems, and the first intermission youth scrimmage will be entirely populated by young netminders. Sans pads, goalies will also participate in the pre-game Fist Bump Tunnel, serve as Bench Buddies during warmups, and enjoy Zamboni and Fanboni rides between periods. The Chaska-Chanhassen 8U Girls teams will conduct a more conventional scrimmage during the second intermission with the goaltenders focusing exclusively on stopping pucks.