Frost triumphs 3-0, intensifying playoff possibilities while threatening Charge's prospects.
Ottawa, ON — The Minnesota Frost snatched victory from the precipice of elimination, securing a 3-0 shutout over the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday evening. The win, coupled with an impending showdown in the final regular-season games this weekend, significantly altered both teams' playoff prospects.
Heading into the game, the Charge needed just a single point to clinch their inaugural playoff bid. A Charge win or an Ottawa-on-Toronto overtime victory, or a Minnesota loss to Boston, would have secured Ottawa's place in the postseason. However, the Frost's triumph has now pushed the Charge's playoff hopes to a nail-biting finale.
With the scoreline even at 0-0 after two periods, Lee Stecklein broke the deadlock for the Frost with a sharp point shot at 5:38 of the third period. Stecklein confirmed the victory with an empty-net goal in the dying moments of the game, marking her second goal of the season.
The Charge goalie, Gwyneth Philips, who made 30 saves, showcased her prowess in the second period, making several impressive saves to keep the Frost at bay. Ottawa found themselves in penalty trouble late in the period, but Philips held firm, thwarting Minnesota's advance. In 1:17 of power play time during the second period, Kendall Coyne Schofield managed to break the deadlock for the Frost with a well-placed shot through the legs of Philips.
The Charge struggled to capitalize on their power play opportunities, finishing the game with a disappointing 0-for-3 record on the man advantage. Meanwhile, the Frost demonstrated a relentless offensive strategy, firing numerous shots at the net.
As the regular season draws to a close, the Frost will travel to Boston for their final game on Saturday, while the Charge will take on the Toronto Sceptres under immense pressure to secure their playoff berth. Should both teams finish with equal points, the Charge will retain the advantage due to the tiebreaker rule.
Noteworthy Context: The series between the Ottawa Charge and Minnesota Frost had recently reached crescendo after the defending champions won the best-of-five PWHL Finals with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 4, on May 26, 2025. The entire series was fiercely contested, with all four games needing overtime to be decided. The series' Game 3, played on May 24, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota, set a new record for the longest PWHL Finals game in history, spanning triple overtime.
Access the latest updates and features on Women's Hockey at: https://our website/hub/womens-hockey
The Minnesota Frost's 3-0 shutout victory over the Ottawa Charge in their media-hyped NHL match has significantly altered both teams' playoff prospects, pushing the Charge's playoff hopes to a nail-biting finale. Despite showcasing her prowess with 30 saves, a disappointing 0-for-3 record on the power play did not help the Charge's cause, while the Frost demonstrated a relentless offensive strategy, firing numerous shots at the net.
