Ottawa Charge's playoff hopes all come down to Wednesday's game vs. Minnesota Frost
OTTAWA – It all comes down to Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Frost for the Ottawa Charge.
Win and they're in.
Ottawa beat the Montreal Victoire 3-1 on Saturday afternoon for the Charge's third consecutive win, putting them four points ahead of Minnesota for the final playoff spot in the Professional Women's Hockey League. The two teams meet in Ottawa on Wednesday in their second last game of the season and no matter what happens in the Frost's game on Sunday, a win will give the Charge their first-ever playoff berth in the league's second season.
'You get to this point in the season and the games are going to be tight,' said Charge coach Carla MacLeod. 'Everyone's fighting for everything and for our group it's no different. We don't waver in moments anymore, we just keep working.
'It's just staying true to our process, and that's been the conversation we've had over the whole season. We're just trying to get better every game and that doesn't change for us.'
Ottawa has won three straight games and four of there past five. There was a three-week break in between wins two and three for the women's world championship, but the team seems to be playing their best hockey at the right time.
'There's a lot of excitement and energy to our group,' said Charge defender Jincy Roese, who sang the national anthem before Saturday's win. 'We're having a lot of fun right now.'
If Minnesota loses to New York in regulation time on Sunday, the Charge would clinch a playoff spot with a single point Wednesday. Each team would have a game remaining and could tied in points still, but the Charge hold the tiebreaker with most regulation wins.
A Minnesota win Sunday and the Charge will still get into the playoffs with a regulation win Wednesday.
'Every game these last few are very important now we're looking towards Minnesota Wednesday and another big three points to chase towards clinching a playoff spot,' Ottawa defender Ashton Bell said.
'I think our teams rise to these types of occasions and we're looking forward to Wednesday.'
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The Charge are now tied for the league lead with 11 regulation wins, but they are also second to last in the league with 11 regulation losses. It's all those overtime games that are making the difference.
'It's not any easy game out there. Every team is so good, but so are we and that's what we're understanding. We know nothing will be given to us and we'll go out there and earn it,' MacLeod sad.
'There's been non-stop pressure on us all year. This is a league that's built on pressure, because the parity is so great and every game matters. For us it's just another opportunity to go out there and do what we do.'
The final regular season game next Saturday for the Charge, and they are hoping to be playing for playoff seeding, and not a playoff invitation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2025.
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