PWHL Ottawa Recap: Week 11
Ottawa won both games, led by Daryl Watts' 4 goals
With a pair of wins in Week 11, Ottawa is finally starting to put some space between themselves and fifth-place Boston. Witnessing the local heroes go 2-0 since ditching Lexie Adzija creates some mixed feelings, but seeing Ottawa snap Toronto's 11-game win streak was truly excellent.
March 20: Ottawa 3, New York 0
Ottawa picked up their first shutout of the season in impressive fashion. Sure, it was against last-place New York, but still, it's nice to see them stifle what should be a weaker team. Daryl Watts has been picking up steam all season, rounding into form when the team needs her most, and she opened the scoring in this one. Kateřina Mrázová notched the primary assist on this one; she’s been on an impressive run.
The second period saw some spirited hockey, but no goals. The third was similar, until, with just under 3 minutes left, Brianne Jenner buried her fourth of the year. It seemed like a backbreaking goal. New York did pull their goalie to try to get it back, but it ended up just giving Emily Clark the chance to score an empty-netter (and give Mrázová her second assist of the game).
Emerance Maschmeyer made 26 saves in the win. Jenner continued to show her 200-ft dominance, and Mrázová moved into the top five in league scoring. On the disappointing side, Zoe Boyd got hurt and placed on LTIR, leading Ottawa to sign defenceman Lauren MacInnis to a 10-day contract.
March 23: Ottawa 5, Toronto 3
This one was big. Toronto was rolling and Ottawa needed to continue to keep pace in the playoffs race. It felt dicey early on, with Toronto taking a 2-0 lead off a pair of Natalie Spooner goals that they then held until late in the second. However, Daryl Watts decided she was going to take over this one and scored late in the second to give the home team hope. Then, just 40 seconds into the third, Hayley Scamurra tied it up.
Game on.
It was tense for several minutes, but Jenner got the go-ahead goal, and then Watts scored an insurance marker. Sarah Nurse brought the teams back within one, but this only set up Watts to get the hat trick on an empty net.
Hearing the crowd chant "End the streak" late in the third was glorious. Maschmeyer was good enough with 19 saves, and though she didn't make the scoresheet, Ashton Bell had a very solid game. The win put Ottawa 5 points ahead of Boston for the final playoff spot, though Boston has a game in hand (and against last-place New York).
Week Ahead
Boston and New York play tonight, and then each team has a game left against each other team. But before that, the league takes a break for the World Championships, taking place April 3–14 in Utica. Here are the PWHL Ottawa players taking part:
Canada — Brianne Jenner, Ashton Bell, Emily Clark, Emerance Maschmeyer
USA — Becca Gilmore, Savanah Harmon, Hayley Scamurra, Gabbie Hughes
Czechia — Kateřina Mrázová, Aneta Tejralová
Japan — Akane Shiga
We'll have more coverage closer to; this is just a little teaser to whet your women's hockey appetite.
