Toronto Holds Off A Late Game Charge To Beat Ottawa And Move Back Into The Playoffs
Calgary's Saddledome played host to the latest edition of the PWHL's Takeover Tour, and with a playoff spot on the line, featured a battle between more than just provincial rivals.
In the league's second-to-last Takeover Tour game of the season, Claire Dalton's third-period goal helped the Toronto Sceptres defeat the Ottawa Charge 2-1 in front of 16,150 at Calgary's Saddledome. The win moved the Sceptres back into a playoff spot, as they leapfrog the Charge for the fourth and final playoff spot. While Toronto was able to sustain momentum and offensive pressure for longer stretches in this game, Ottawa didn't do itself any favours.
A lack of confidence with the puck and uncertain passes, issues that have plagued the team throughout the season, made it easy for the Sceptres to hold the zone, generate more chances, and come away with the regulation win. But Ottawa's struggles went beyond that in this game. They continue to struggle with the player advantage, going 0-for-4, and move to 0-for-9 over their past two games.
Ottawa hasn't scored on the power play since Rebecca Leslie scored in overtime against the Montreal Victoire on March 22. Coming into this game, the Charge led the league on the power play and had scored 26. 4% of their goals on the season with the advantage.
Struggling in this area as much as they have over this stretch, especially when it's been such an important aspect to their game, could prove to be costly when the final horn sounds on the season. Fanuza Kadirova, who scored her eighth of the season, continues to be a bright spot on this team. Time and time again in this game, Kadirova was somehow involved in the play: driving the net, jumping on rebounds, or stick-handling around an opponent, she seems to be a magnet for the puck.