Boston Fleet fall to Charge in shootout in Ottawa

Despite the loss, the Fleet remain atop the league standings with 19 points.

After a scorching start to the 2025-26 campaign, the Boston Fleet have suddenly hit turbulence, dropping their second straight contest. On Saturday afternoon at TD Place, the Fleet fell 3-2 in a shootout with the Ottawa Charge, who have three overtime wins on the season.

The win propelled Ottawa into seventh place in the PWHL with nine points. The Fleet, meanwhile despite the loss, remain atop the league standings with 19 points, holding a five-point cushion over the Toronto Sceptres.

Boston held a slight edge in shots, outshooting Ottawa 36-33, but Charge netminder Gwyneth Phillips was stellar between the pipes, stopping 34 of 36. Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel was equally sharp, turning away 30 of the 32 shots she faced.

The Charge drew first blood late in the opening frame, as Stephanie Markowski found the back of the net at 15:42. It was her first tally of the year, off slick passing from Gabbie Hughes (fourth assist) and Fanuza Kadirova (first assist).

Trailing 1-0 after one, the Fleet wasted no time in the second period. Just 20 seconds in, Haley Winn buried her first goal of the season, with Megan Keller picking up her fifth assist.

With the game level, Boston pulled ahead at 12:03 of the second, as Olivia Mobley netted her second of the campaign. Susanna Tapani (third assist) and Riley Brengman (first assist) combined on the play.

Holding a 2-1 advantage entering the final 20 minutes, the Fleet aimed to lock down the win and head home with two points. The Charge however found the equalizer early on, as Kadirova buried her own at 17:02. Hughes grabbed her second assist of the game on the score.

Sixty minutes solved nothing, and after a scoreless overtime, the contest was settled in a shootout. Ottawa prevailed, 3-2, with Brianne Jenner netting the final two shootout tallies to seal the victory for the home side.

The Fleet will look to regroup as they return to Massachusetts for a four-game home stand, beginning Jan. 3 against the Vancouver Goldeneyes. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.

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Category: General Sports