3 teams, 2 playoff spots: Everything to play for on final day of PWHL regular season
CBC
The PWHL couldn't have scripted it better.
For the second year in a row, the league's playoff picture comes down to the last day of the regular season.
Three points separate second-place Boston from third-place Ottawa and fourth-place Minnesota. Only two will make the Walter Cup playoffs.
The chaos begins on Saturday with Ottawa on the road in Toronto at 12 p.m. ET, as the Charge looks to clinch its first franchise playoff berth.
Ottawa's provincial rivals have already locked down a playoff spot, and have the opportunity to play spoiler for Charge fans for the second year in a row.
It comes after the Charge let a playoff spot slip away on Wednesday in front of a home crowd at TD Place. The Frost shut Ottawa out 3-0, despite a solid performance in net by rookie Gwyneth Philips.
WATCH | Charge miss opportunity to secure playoff spot in loss against Frost:
Ottawa allowed turnovers all night and struggled to get the puck out of its zone. Eventually it caught up with the team.
"I don't think it was a lack of effort," head coach Carla MacLeod said after the game. "I just feel we were a bit 'blah' today, and you don't want to see that in a moment like this. Certainly that's a misstep on our part."
MacLeod encouraged her players to meet the moment, and to be excited to earn a playoff spot rather than scared to lose.
The team will be in the driving seat again on Saturday. Ottawa needs a win over Toronto (12 p.m. ET) or a loss by Minnesota to make the cut. Should the Charge tie the Frost, Ottawa's cushion of regulation wins would be the tiebreaker.
In other words, win and you're in. It's as simple as that.
"We have the ticket in our hands still," MacLeod said. "That hasn't changed. It's just making sure that we're learning from this experience and recognizing now we're a little bit up against the wall."
A Walter Cup final rematch is on tap at 1 p.m. ET when the Boston Fleet host the Frost. Both teams are in the hunt for a playoff spot, but the Fleet sit a full three points ahead of Minnesota. Making it to overtime should be enough for the Fleet to get in.
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