First fight in PWHL history as Ottawa Charge lose to Boston Fleet

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Facing the PWHL’s best goalie at the end of an exhausting week didn’t stop the Ottawa Charge from a dramatic comeback attempt on Thursday.

Seven long days after setting a PWHL record with eight goals in a win over the Minnesota Frost, Ottawa was losing 2-0 and looked to be done in the dying minutes against Aerin Frankel and the Boston Fleet.

But Ronja Savolainen spoiled Frankel’s shutout bid 3:33 from the end of regulation time and then, with goalie Emerance Maschmeyer on the bench in favour of an extra attacker, Tereza Vanisova tied the score with 2.9 seconds on the clock.

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The Fleet prevailed 3-2 when Susanna Tapani scored on a breakaway with 47.7 left in the extra session, but the Charge were able to pick up what could become a big point in their race for a playoff spot before 5,459 fans at TD Place.

The Charge, which had multiple flight issues and an extended stay in Edmonton after Sunday’s “Takeover Tour” loss to Toronto Sceptres because of weather and airport closures, looked a step or two behind the Fleet much of the night.

Their frustrations as they struggled to climb out of an early hole against Boston were evident in what could have been considered the first fight in PWHL history between Vanisova and the Fleet’s Jill Saulnier.

The two players exchanged a series of gloves-on punches but were given two-minute minors for roughing, but the incident appeared to give the Charge a spark.

Entering the night, Frankel led the league with a .932 save percentage and 1.90 goals against average and the Fleet (6-4-2-6 for 28 points) had won four of their previous five games.

The Charge (6-0-4-8) have 22 points, six back of Boston.

The Fleet had a 2-0 lead after outshooting Ottawa 8-6 in the first period.

Kanata’s Jamie Lee Rattray set up the first goal with a short feed to Theresa Schafzahl, who beat Maschmeyer with a low shot to the glove side at the 8:18 mark.

Alina Muller put the visitors up by a pair on a shorthanded goal almost eight minutes later when she stepped around Jocelyne Larocque and fired a shot that squeaked through Maschmeyer’s pads.

There was no scoring in a second period that saw the Fleet outshoot the Charge 7-5.

Ottawa’s next game is Saturday, when the league-leading Montreal Victoire is in town for a 2 p.m. start at TD Place.