OTTAWA, Ontario — A thrilling performance by Alex Vasko helped the Ottawa Charge secure a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday night, but the excitement was marred by a significant setback for the team.
Their star goalie, Emerance Maschmeyer, who had just reached a career milestone with her 1,000th regular-season save, was forced to leave the game due to an apparent injury to her right leg.
Before the incident, Maschmeyer was in top form, successfully blocking 19 shots from the Minnesota Frost. However, it was the 20th attempt that saw Taylor Heise get a puck past a heavily guarded defense, forcing Maschmeyer out of the game.
Gwyneth Philips stepped in as the relief goaltender, making one critical save while the Charge maintained a narrow 2-1 lead with less than nine minutes left on the clock.
Vasko’s exceptional play continued to shine through when she scored a short-handed goal late in the third period, securing her second goal of the match and an important win for Ottawa.
However, the game took an intense turn when Minnesota seemed to have leveled the score at 13:18. Although the on-ice referee initially disallowed the goal, after a thorough review, Claire Thompson’s goal was validated, bringing the game to a tense 2-2 draw.
The Ottawa Charge experienced significant improvement in their play during the second period, an area where they often face challenges, showing an ability to create promising opportunities.
In contrast, after a slow start in the first period, the Minnesota Frost managed to ramp up their efforts and ended the game outshooting the Charge 22 to 19.
A key highlight of the game was Maschmeyer’s 18th save, making her the first goalie in PWHL history to achieve 1,000 regular-season saves, marking an impressive career milestone.
Also notable is Kendall Coyne Schofield, who remains unique this season with her ten goals, as none have come during power plays, emphasizing her impact in equal strength situations.
Looking ahead, the Minnesota Frost are set to face off against the New York Sirens on Sunday, while the Ottawa Charge will welcome the Boston Fleet on Saturday.
