Frost tie series, win 2-1 in OT

Ottawa was so close to winning this one, but a tying goal with 15 seconds left gave the Frost life, and they won it in OT. Ottawa was the better team, outshooting them 38-24, but sometimes the worse team wins. Jocelyne Larocque scored Ottawa's lone goal in a 2-1 OT loss.

We all knew this one wasn't going to be a high-scoring game, but I don't think anyone was prepared for the complete lack of goals for the first 55 minutes. Sure, Ottawa was stifling against Montreal, but this Minnesota team scored 18 goals in 4 games against Toronto. Ottawa came into this game with a system, and played it to frustrating perfection. They boxed out, they forechecked, they swarmed in the defensive zone, and Minnesota couldn't get much of anything going. It did mean the Charge sacrificed a bit on offence – I remember one brilliant Emily Clark rush in the first period where she powered into the zone, but ended up in without any support to pass to – but they still outshot Minnesota 8-3 in the first. Even with Tereza Vanisova taking the game's first penalty, a holding call, they managed to limit Minnesota's chances.

The second period saw things get a little chippier. In particular, Rebecca Leslie was in the mix, getting physical in front of the net. I feel like Leslie has come alive these playoffs, being in the middle of everything. The penalties this period were two called against Ottawa (including an illegal bodycheck penalty on Ronja Savolainen that, whatever, nobody knows what the line is in the PWHL) versus one against Minnesota, but the offence was all Ottawa, to the tune of shots being 16-6. The Frost got a flurry of chances just as the second ended, but Gwyneth Philips calmly kept the puck out, unflustered despite facing just nine shots through two periods.

The third period began with the Frost getting the first couple chances, but then Brianne Jenner drew an interference penalty while breaking in 1-on-2. Ottawa actually had a decent powerplay but, unsurprisingly, they couldn't score. As play opened up, it seemed obvious was going to take the next penalty. Sure enough they did, but then Clark and Ashton Bell had the best scoring chances of the powerplay, making Minnesota's powerplay just look disorganized and slow. The ice slowly started to tilt toward the Minnesota end once again. Clark and Gabbie Hughes each had good chances but put them wide and high, respectively. Then Leslie got in on the forecheck to force a turnover. The puck went to Jocelyne Larocque, and she pulled out dangles I didn't know she had and scored a beautiful goal. In fact, her first goal as a Charge.

What a time to get your first. Also, just when it started to feel like the game's first goal would be weird and/or ugly, Larocque had the audacity to do that. Minnesota got the goalie out with a couple minutes left, and then Ottawa took a (phantom) penalty with 30 seconds left to make things interesting. The shot blockers were up to the task, until they weren't. Britta Curl-Salemme continued to play heel, scoring the tying goal with just 15 seconds on the clock. Just when it looked like Ottawa might win, it went to OT instead. The fans did their job, booing Curl for her entire intermission interview.

OT looked a lot like the beginning of the game. Ottawa would get full shifts in Minnesota's end, then the Frost might get a dangerous chance the other way. Ottawa looked like the much better team. Unfortunately, all it takes is one bounce, and Curl put home her second on a weird play. Another heartbreaking goal by a player we already hated.

Game Thoughts:

• Rebecca Leslie is a pest and I love it.
• Emily Clark is really good. I love watching her stickhandle and fly up the ice.
• The TSN scoreboard said EVEN STRENGHT SHOTS (sic) throughout the game. I get that typos happen, but why not fix it after the first period?
• The Charge powerplay looked better to me tonight, but they still need to work harder to get to the front of the net. This team is good off the rush, they should just crash the net and create powerplay pseudo-rush chances.
• Meanwhile, the penalty kill, I just love this team's PK. They are aggressive and unafraid to go for the jailbreak goal. It makes for very entertaining hockey.
• Philips' glove hand is so, so good. She's quick and focused, and has just a little bit of swagger when she pulls the puck out of the air.
• The Charge crowd is excellent. They're loud, they bring great signs, and they booed Britta Curl-Salemme every chance they got.
• Jocelyne Larocque commented that it's hard to know what a penalty is during the second intermission. I wholeheartedly agree. That penalty that let Minnesota tie it up, in particular, was nothing. It would be very frustrating to try to play with this unpredictable standard.
• Curl injured Ottawa's top scorer out of Game 2 on an uncalled penalty, then scored both goals tonight. If there's any justice, she'll miss Game 3 with a papercut or something.

Game 3 is Saturday at 5:00 pm EST in Minnesota.