A fight breaks out between the Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge after the end of the third period, during PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, April 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
Ottawa Charge forward Brianne Jenner celebrates her goal on Toronto Sceptres goaltender Raygan Kirk with her teammates during third period PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, April 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
Toronto Sceptres forward Jesse Compher attempts to get a shot past Ottawa Charge defender Ronja Savolainen during second-period PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, April 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
Toronto Sceptres forward Kiara Zanon falls as she attempts a shot on Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips during second-period PWHL hockey action in Toronto on Saturday, April 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
OTTAWA - For the third straight season, the Ottawa Charge will have their fate decided in the final game 鈥 once again against the Toronto Sceptres.
The Charge had an opportunity to punch its playoff ticket Wednesday night with a regulation win against the Boston Fleet, but fell short with a 2-1 overtime win.
Captain Brianne Jenner netted the overtime winner.
Ottawa (8-8-1-12) enters Saturday's season ender holding the fourth and final playoff spot, with a three-point lead over the Sceptres (10-1-6-12).
Ottawa needs at least a point 鈥 via a win or overtime loss 鈥 to control its playoff fate. A regulation win by Toronto would draw the teams even in points with the Sceptres holding the tiebreaker with more regulation wins.
The Charge feel they鈥檝e been playing playoff hockey the last few weeks, and so their approach Saturday won鈥檛 change.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not new to us that tomorrow鈥檚 a big game," said interim head coach Haley Irwin. 鈥淭he last couple of games have been just that. We don鈥檛 need to change anything, that鈥檚 for sure. We just need to be the best version of ourselves, and it will be a great one.鈥
Ottawa is 1-1-0-2 against the Sceptres this season, including a 2-0 shutout win two weeks ago.
The Charge are no strangers to must-win games.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a balance between there鈥檚 a lot on the line, but that it鈥檚 still just another hockey game,鈥 said veteran defenceman Jocelyne Larocque. 鈥淭o think about the result is pretty overwhelming, so as a team, we have to think shift by shift. Being dominant and playing our way, being fast and physical, moving the puck well every single shift, whether you have a good shift or a bad shift, next shift, same mentality.鈥
Larocque knows there鈥檚 a lot at stake, but she emphasized the importance of having fun and enjoying the moment.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nowhere else I would rather be,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here is nowhere else we would want to be together.鈥
During their inaugural season, Ottawa鈥檚 playoff hopes were dashed with a 5-2 loss to the Sceptres in the final game of the season.
Last season, they flipped the script and beat the Sceptres 2-1 in overtime to clinch the final playoff spot and earn their first post-season berth.
The Charge went on to upset the heavily favoured Montreal Victoire and advanced to the Walter Cup, where they fell three games to one to the Minnesota Frost.
For now, nothing beyond Saturday matters.
鈥淲e all know what鈥檚 at stake for this game,鈥 said defender Rory Guilday. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e really lucky we get to do this at home and fight for that spot at home. I think the crowd will rally around us, and I just can鈥檛 wait to feel the energy in this building.鈥
While one point is all that鈥檚 needed, Irwin says the Charge are looking for the win.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not talking about trying not to lose,鈥 said Irwin. 鈥淲e鈥檙e talking about winning a hockey game. That puts us on our toes, that puts us playing our best hockey. That鈥檚 our mindset. Nothing less than that.鈥
This report by 好色tvwas first published April 24, 2026
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