Boston’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion after a 4-3 double-overtime loss in Game 4 of the PWHL semifinals.
The Boston Fleet season came to a heartbreaking end Sunday afternoon as the Ottawa Charge secured a 4-3 double-overtime victory in Game 4 of the PWHL semifinals at the Canadian Tire Centre.
After battling through more than 81 minutes of hockey, Ottawa forward Michela Cava buried the game-winning goal just 1:12 into the second overtime period to send the Charge to the PWHL Finals.
Ottawa opened the scoring midway through the first period when Sarah Wozniewicz capitalized on the power play off assists from Fanuza Kadirova and Cava.
The Charge extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second period on a goal from Rebecca Leslie, but Boston responded quickly with an explosive stretch of offense. Shay Maloney put the Fleet on the board before Megan Keller tied the game on the power play less than a minute later. Moments after that, Sophie Shirley gave Boston its first lead of the game at 3-2.
Ottawa answered later in the second period as Brooke Hobson scored the equalizer, ultimately forcing overtime after a scoreless third period.
Boston generated pressure throughout the extra frames and finished with a 46-33 advantage in shots, but Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips delivered 43 saves to keep the Charge alive.
Cava’s overtime winner ultimately sealed the semifinal series for Ottawa and brought Boston’s season to a close following a hard-fought playoff run. Despite the loss, Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel made 29 saves across nearly 81 minutes of action as the Fleet pushed Ottawa through two overtime periods in front of a crowd of 11,297 at Canadian Tire Centre.
