Emily Clark scores OT winner as Charge edge Frost in Game 1 of PWHL Finals
Emily Clark’s OT Winner Lifts Charge Over Frost in PWHL Finals Opener
On Tuesday night, Emily Clark scored at 2:47 of overtime to lead the Ottawa Charge to a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Frost in Game 1 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League best-of-five championship series for the Walter Cup.
The win gives the Charge a 1-0 lead in the series, with Ottawa maintaining a perfect 3-0 record on home ice throughout the playoffs. The Frost, on the other hand, have never won Game 1 of a playoff series in four attempts.
Clark’s game-winning goal came as she skated down the wing and fired a shot past Minnesota goaltender Nicole Hensley, who made 17 saves in the contest.
The game required extra time after Gwyneth Philips made a rare miscue early in the third period, leading to the Frost’s tying goal. Philips, who stopped 25 shots, mishandled the puck while attempting to play it, resulting in a turnover to Katy Knoll. Knoll quickly passed to Klara Hymlarova, who capitalized on the opportunity to even the score at 1-1.
In the second period, Rebecca Leslie scored the opening goal for the Charge, beating Hensley high glove side. Moments before Leslie’s goal, the Frost had created numerous chances on the power play, but Philips stood strong in net. Jocelyne Larocque made a key cross-ice pass to Tereza Vanisova, who then set up Leslie for the goal.
Throughout the game, both teams had quality scoring chances, with Brooke McQuigge and Denisa Krisova testing Philips in the Ottawa net. Despite a scoreless first period and missed opportunities on the power play, the intensity of the game continued to build.
With just over six minutes remaining in regulation, the Charge were set to go on the power play, but a cross-checking incident by Leslie on Mellissa Channell-Watkins led to a review by officials. The penalty was initially assessed as a major, but was eventually downgraded to a minor, resulting in offsetting penalties for both teams.
Game 2 of the series is set to take place on Thursday in Ottawa, where the Charge will look to extend their lead over the Frost in pursuit of the Walter Cup.
