Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. ET | The Arena at TD Place
WATCH LIVE: CBC TV, CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, NESN+, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International)
EN: Daniella Ponticelli (Play-by-Play), Becky Kellar (Analyst), Rob Pizzo (Reporter), Andi Petrillo (CBC Studio Host), Hailey Salvian (CBC Studio Analyst), Saroya Tinker (CBC Studio Analyst)
BOSTON FLEET
7-5-4-6 | 35 PTS | 3RD PLACE (TIED)
Top Scorer: Hilary Knight – 22 GP, 11-10-21 PTS
Last Game: 3-2 OTL vs. MTL on Mar. 8
OTTAWA CHARGE
8-1-4-9 | 30 PTS | 5TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Emily Clark – 22 GP, 7-8-15 PTS
Last Game: 3-2 W vs. MIN on Mar. 11
2024-25 SEASON SERIES: BOSTON LEADS 7-2 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. 29 at BOS (ST. LOUIS) | Apr. 2 at BOS
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Boston’s team record seven-game point streak (3-2-2-0) dates back to Feb. 16 and includes four road games (1-2-1-0). Despite the recent success, the Fleet still have the league’s lowest points percentage on the road this season with 15 in 13 games (.385).
All three games between these teams this season have resulted in one-goal wins by the Fleet, with the last two of those coming in overtime at TD Place. The Fleet are 0-3-4-1 in one-goal games against all other teams this season. Three of the five games between these teams last season were also decided by one goal (two Boston wins).
The Fleet lost to the Victoire, 3-2, in overtime on Mar. 8 at Agganis Arena. It was Boston’s fourth straight game away from the Tsongas Center to go beyond regulation. The team’s three straight road games requiring extra time is tied for the longest such streak by any team in PWHL history. The Fleet are 3-3 in road overtime/shootout games this season – they also had a three-game streak from Jan. 2-11 this season.
Lexie Adzija, who began her PWHL career with Ottawa, had the primary assist on each of Boston’s two goals last Saturday, while Jillian Dempsey had the secondary assist on both. Adzija doubled her season assist total, while Dempsey’s helpers were her first two of the season. It was the second straight game that Boston had two players record multiple assists (Shay Maloney and Alina Müller) after having one such game in their first 20 games.
Hannah Brandt leads Boston with three points (1G, 2A) in three games against Ottawa this season, tied with Charge rookie Danielle Serdachny (3A) for most points in the season series.
Kelly Babstock returns to the Fleet line-up after signing on Mar. 14. She’s played in three games this season, most recently in Ottawa on Jan. 11, recording a season-high 10:14 in ice time.
Ottawa’s three straight home wins is tied for the best streak in team history while collecting points in their last five games at TD Place (4-0-1-0). The Charge’s 17 points in 11 total home games ranks fifth in the PWHL (.515). Their only defeat on home ice during that stretch came against Boston in a 3-2 OT loss Feb. 20.
Ottawa beat Minnesota, 3-2, at home on Tuesday, their third win in their last four games (2-1-0-1). The Charge are 6-1-1-0 when scoring at least three goals this season and just 2-0-3-9 when scoring two or fewer. Those six regulation wins are tied for the most such wins in the league.
Tuesday was the second time that the Charge have scored a power-play goal, a shorthanded goal and an even-strength goal in the same game this season, also doing so in their 8-3 win over Minnesota on Feb. 13. The rest of the league has combined for two such games this season (Toronto on Nov. 30, New York on Dec. 4).
Alexa Vasko’s shorthanded goal on Tuesday broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the game-winner. It was the second ‘jailbreak’ game-winning goal in the PWHL this season, after Montréal’s Kristin O’Neill scored one on Dec. 30 against Boston. Vasko also became the second PWHL player this season to score a SHG as part of a multi-goal game, after Ottawa’s Gabbie Hughes did so in an 8-3 win over Minnesota on Feb. 13.
When Brianne Jenner scores, Ottawa wins. The Charge are a perfect 10-0 when their captain scores a goal, including three times this season against Minnesota. She snapped a five-game goalless drought by opening the scoring in Tuesday’s 3-2 win.
With Emerance Maschmeyer on LTIR, rookie Logan Angers, a product of Quinnipiac University, will dress for the first time this season behind starter Gwyneth Philips. The Charge also signed rookie goaltender Lucy Morgan from Minnesota’s Reserve Player list ahead of the roster freeze.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Going into this game against Ottawa, we’re focusing on supporting each other, having quicker support in all three zones and playing a full 60 minutes. We are reminding each other to keep things simple because that’s when we play best.” – Fleet forward Lexie Adzija.
“Gwyneth Philips is so built for that type of challenge (replacing Emerance Maschmeyer). She's so calm in her demeanor. She's very focused, but in her way she's a relaxed and present. Not a lot throws her off. It's what makes her great. We’ve seen it in multiple outings now. She just goes in, and she just does her job. She's a great character. She's a fun teammate and she just she doesn't let moments be bigger than they are.” - Charge Head Coach Carla MacLeod.
SATURDAY’S GAME: Ottawa enters the game five points behind Boston and Minnesota in the PWHL playoff race. It’s Women’s Empowerment Month and the Charge are celebrating the women shaping the future both on and off the ice as part of the PWHL’s Unity Games series. Charge players will walk-in accompanied by goalie Justyne Bennett and president Émilie Robitaille of the Canadian Women’s Para Hockey Team to showcase growing opportunities for women in the sport, and Miranda Smith and Emily Amano from the Ottawa Rapid FC of the new Northern Super League to highlight other professional women athletes. Shout outs will be given to all the women working for the Charge staff before puck drop. Videos of prominent women in Ottawa sports will be featured on the giant screen throughout the game. During the first intermission, young athletes from the NGHA FUNdamentals program will take to the ice for a mini-game, proudly wearing pink Barbie jerseys in celebration of Women’s Empowerment Month. Inspired by the iconic message of Barbie - "You Can Be Anything" - this showcase highlights the limitless potential of young girls in hockey and beyond.