Michela Cava Scores In Double Overtime To Send Ottawa Back To The Walter Cup Finals

Credit: Ellen Bond

The power play is also an area that will require attention, not for the results, but rather the structure itself. Ottawa was able to finish 1-for-1 in the series-clinching game, but finished 2-for-13 (15.4%) overall. While that is only 2.4% lower than their regular-season success rate of 17.8%, the concern is the structure of the player advantage. Ottawa spent too much time passing and not enough time taking shots on goal, a mentality that has plagued the team all season and also applies to its even-strength play.

While there are areas to Ottawa's game that will need to improve if they hope for redemption in the Finals, there remains much to celebrate.

The name that will appear directly after Philips' at the top of the list is undoubtedly Fanuza Kadirova, who may very well be the steal of the 2025 PWHL Draft. She finished with five points through four games and holds the playoff scoring lead over Minnesota's Sidney Morin by one point. And it isn't just that she's scored points, but how she's managed to do so. She's scored the opening goal, a game-winning goal, and contributed on the power play. Kadirova never took a shift off, nor were there moments in a game in which she lowered her intensity. It was fifth gear all game, every game.

While the team gave up far too many shots on goal in the semifinals, it is important to recognize the work the defenders, as well as the forwards, have done to reduce the threat of secondary scoring by clearing the puck from in front of the net. That improved play is due in large part to the work done alongside goaltender coach Pierre Groulx.

"He's really bolstered our offence and defence," said head coach Carla MacLeod. "He's really taken a grasp of the net front presence piece on both ends of the rink. He gives incredible presentations to our players to help us understand tendencies and what we want to do."

Credit: Ellen Bond

With the final two games of this series held at the Canadian Tire Centre, fans received a glimpse of what the future could very well hold for this team, and over those games, attendance totalled 24,409, including a PWHL playoff record set in game three. Between the Fan Zone and Electric Avenue outside the arena, to the pregame light shows and playoff fan spotlights put up on the jumbotron, every attempt was made to make these home games feel as they would at TD Place, which was something they undeniably achieved.

Now the Ottawa Charge wait patiently to find out whether they will be facing the Minnesota Frost once again in the Finals, or if it will be a rematch from last year's semifinal round with the Montreal Victoire. And while there are certainly areas that will need to be improved upon as they hope to bring home the Walter Cup, the Charge have certainly made one thing crystal clear: never, for one second, count them out.