Ottawa Charge earns final PWHL playoff spot with 3-0 victory over Toronto Sceptres

Toronto Sceptres' Renata Fast (14) looks for a rebound as Ottawa Charge's goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) tries to cover the loose puck during second period PWHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, April 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

OTTAWA — Gwyneth Philips stopped 41 shots as the Ottawa Charge defeated the Toronto Sceptres 3-0 on Saturday to capture the final Professional Women’s Hockey League playoff berth.

Fanuza Kadirova, Sarah Wozniewicz and Alexa Vasko scored for Ottawa (9-8-1-12), which will make its second playoff appearance.

Raygan Kirk had 29 saves for Toronto (10-1-7-12).

Ottawa will now wait to find out if it will play either the Boston Fleet or Montreal Victoire in the playoffs.

The Sceptres came into the game needing a regulation win to leapfrog the Charge for the final playoff spot but came up short for the second straight year.

Leading 1-0, Ottawa extended its advantage just 1:03 into the third when Toronto’s Kali Flanagan turned the puck over at her own blue line. That allowed Charge captain Brianne Jenner to find Wozniewicz all alone and beat Kirk off her backhand.

Alexa Vasko added an empty-net goal with just over four minutes remaining to seal the victory.

The Charge opened the scoring early in the second.

With a battle in front for the puck Michela Cava made a cross-crease pass to Kadirova, who took the pass off her skate to her stick to beat Kirk to the short side.

The goal changed the momentum of the game. Toronto dominated play early in the contest but the Charge fed off the energy of the goal and had sustained pressure numerous times throughout the period.

The Sceptres had two power-play opportunities but were unable to capitalize.

A scoreless first saw both teams generate solid chances.

Toronto challenged Philips right off the opening draw with Blayre Turnbull and Maggie Connors firing off a couple good chances.

Ottawa thought it had opened the scoring near the seven-minute mark when Brooke McQuigge fired a shot that initially looked like a goal. But the review showed the puck hit the crossbar and never crossed the goal line.

Ottawa’s Brooke Hobson returned to the lineup after missing the last seven games with an upper body injury.

Takeaways

Charge: Ottawa played to its strengths with a physical and patient game.

Sceptres: Toronto started strong but struggled after Ottawa opened the scoring.

Key Moment

Ottawa capitalizing on a Toronto turnover early in the third proved to be the difference.

Up next

Charge: Playoff game against a yet to be determined opponent.

Sceptres: Last regular-season game.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2026.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press