Ottawa Charge's Brianne Jenner (19) scores on Boston Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel (31) during shootout PWHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) looks for the puck as Boston Fleet鈥檚 Shay Maloney (27) is pressured by Ottawa Charge鈥檚 Ronja Savolainen (88) during second period PWHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Ottawa Charge's Brianne Jenner (19) scores on Boston Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel (31) during shootout PWHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
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Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) looks for the puck as Boston Fleet鈥檚 Shay Maloney (27) is pressured by Ottawa Charge鈥檚 Ronja Savolainen (88) during second period PWHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
OTTAWA - The Ottawa Charge might not be sitting where they want to be in the standings but feel they鈥檙e trending in the right direction.
Following a 3-2 shootout win over the league-leading Boston Fleet (6-0-1-1) Saturday afternoon, the Charge (1-3-0-5) moved into sixth and will take advantage of a six-day break before they鈥檙e back in action next Saturday.
Ottawa has played a league-high nine games to this point and played its last five on the road creating a less than ideal schedule.
With the team鈥檚 next two on home ice, head coach Carla MacLeod said the team will get a well deserved few days rest.
The Charge barely had a breather over the Christmas break. The team travelled home following a 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Sceptres on Tuesday night and arrived in Ottawa in the early morning hours, took Thursday off and were back on the ice Friday to prepare for the game against the Fleet.
鈥淚 told them to enjoy their break,鈥 said MacLeod. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 really had a break. We really just had Christmas Day off, but we were in market.聽
"It鈥檚 been a hectic schedule for us up to this point, from the international break to this point, so we鈥檙e able to string a few days in a row where they can go be people 鈥 it鈥檚 just about getting rested and recovered and getting excited to go back to the rink again.鈥
The break will likely feel that much better following a strong performance against Boston.
Ottawa has struggled to score in the first period to this point, with just four goals in the first 20 minutes, but finding a way to beat Boston鈥檚 Aerin Frankel in the first was key for the Charge.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e had a few first periods where we鈥檝e come out really hot, so it was nice to get rewarded for that,鈥 said captain Brianne Jenner. 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e just got to be more consistent in every period.鈥
Ottawa appears to bring its best in the third, with eight goals scored, compared to four in both the first and second periods.
While slow starts aren鈥檛 ideal, it does say something about the team鈥檚 mentality.
Prior to Saturday鈥檚 game, the Charge had won their last two in overtime.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e shown on the road trip and then coming back home that we are a team that doesn鈥檛 quit,鈥 Jenner said. 鈥淚 think we can take a lot of confidence from this game, but I think at the same time, we鈥檙e not fully satisfied with that effort.鈥
Jenner added that the team realizes there鈥檚 areas that need to be cleaned up, but knowing they have the ability to get back in games goes a long way.
One of those areas should be cutting back on the number of shots allowed.聽
Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips, who leads the league in playing time, has faced a league high 273 shots, with Boston鈥檚 Frankel is second with 191.
While Philips says she has no concerns about the workload, it could become an issue down the stretch, especially considering she will also be heading to Italy for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a really great staff of medical team to make sure I鈥檓 staying healthy,鈥 said Philips. 鈥淚鈥檒l keep doing my part, making sure I鈥檓 taking care of myself after games and during practices.鈥
Philips says while the shot count can often be high, her teammates do a good job of keeping things to the outside, which often make things less taxing.
With seven games before the Olympic break, the Charge know they need to be at their best to move themselves into playoff contention.
This report by 好色tvwas first published Dec. 27, 2025.