Ottawa Charge Shocks Minnesota Frost in PWHL Finals Game 1: Unpacking the Unexpected Upset
It was a moment that felt electric — Rebecca Leslie, the hometown hero and the lone local on the Ottawa Charge roster, netted the first-ever PWHL Finals goal scored right here in Ottawa. After a cautious, scoreless first period, Leslie broke through 11:34 into the second, turning what had been a defensive chess match into a thrilling battle of wills. What’s especially striking is that Leslie only found the back of the net once during the regular season — yet here she is, delivering consecutive opening goals in the postseason, proving that when the stakes get higher, her impact deepens. The crowd couldn’t have been happier, and Ottawa’s coach Carla MacLeod summed it up perfectly: the community’s pride in Leslie goes beyond the ice — it’s about the person she is and the professionalism she brings every shift. And as the game stretched to overtime, Emily Clark sealed a hard-fought 2-1 victory, with standout goaltender Gwyneth Philips turning aside save after save to secure her third straight playoff win. This was more than a game — it was a statement by the Charge on their home ice, setting the tone for a tense and captivating Finals series. LEARN MORE
OTTAWA — In many ways, it’s fitting that the only local player on the Ottawa Charge would score the first PWHL Finals goal in the city.
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