PWHL Ottawa celebrates a goal during a Jan. 23, 2024 game against PWHL Toronto at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ont. [Photo by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL]

It was a feel-good moment for the more than 6,000 fans at TD Place Arena after PWHL Ottawa earned their first-ever victory on home ice Jan. 23. 

In the PWHL’s second installment of the battle of Ontario, Ottawa defeated PWHL Toronto 3-1.

And for the franchise’s long-awaited home win, the team and fans revelled in the moment together with a triumphant thunderclap celebration.

“It feels really good,” said Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner. “Our fans are so loud, the environment is unbelievable.”

Ottawa previously failed to win on home ice with a pair of 3-2 overtime losses against PWHL Montreal and PWHL Minnesota, respectively.

In the win, Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer held Toronto to just one goal despite facing 31 shots. 

PWHL Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer (38) collects the puck during a Jan. 23, 2024 game against PWHL Toronto at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ont. [Photo by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL]
Jenner contributed her first PWHL goal, which stood as the game-winner to secure the victory. 

Ottawa has maintained a point streak through their first four games, accumulating two regulation wins and two overtime losses. Their win over Toronto ties them for third place with PWHL New York with two games in hand. 

The only other team without a regulation loss so far this season is first-place Minnesota, who bested Ottawa in overtime Jan. 17. 

Toronto now sits in a tie with PWHL Boston at the bottom of the standings. Toronto has collected five regulation losses in seven games.

With Ottawa already beating Toronto 5-1 on Jan. 13, the intensity of the cross-province rivalry was evident. Early in the game, players on both sides sought to establish a physical presence. 

“I thought tonight was a really physical game,” Jenner said. “I thought Toronto did play really well tonight. I think next time we face them they’re certainly gonna be hungry.”

PWHL Ottawa forward Emily Clark (26) fires a pass over the stick of PWHL Toronto defender Allie Munroe (12) during a Jan. 23, 2024 game at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ont. [Photo by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL]
Further legitimizing the provincial rivalry are the combined 15 Ontarians playing for the two squads.

Toronto forward and St. Thomas, Ont. native Brittany Howard scored her team’s lone goal.

“We wanna play a consistent 60 minutes and that’s something we have to continue to work on,” Howard said.

Toronto goaltender and Ottawa product Erica Howe received her first start of the season in her homecoming game. Howe previously played 40 minutes in relief of goaltender Kristen Campbell against Ottawa Jan. 13.

PWHL Toronto goaltender Erica Howe (37) denies a shot from PWHL Ottawa during a Jan. 23, 2024 game at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ont. [Photo by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL]
“Erica has come in to be our backup right now and although Campbell has not had the best start, I think we’re sticking with what we have right now,” Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said.

Just five minutes into the first frame, Ottawa forward Emily Clark caught Howe off her post to sneak in a short-angle goal. Clark’s first PWHL marker gave Ottawa the early 1-0 lead.

A minute later, Ottawa defender Amanda Boulier drew a tripping penalty on Toronto captain Blayre Turnbull. However, Ottawa failed to capitalize on the power play while Toronto attempted to score shorthanded and take advantage of the PWHL’s “jailbreak” rule. 

About five minutes later, Howard’s seeing-eye wrister flew past Maschmeyer and ricocheted off the left post into the net to knot the game 1-1. 

Not to be outdone, Boulier picked off an attempted Toronto pass not even a minute later and dropped a pass to Jenner, who tallied her long-awaited first goal of the campaign. 

Ottawa carried the 2-1 lead into the second period.

Howe allowed two goals on Ottawa’s six shots while Maschmeyer stopped eight of Toronto’s nine. 

Both teams failed to score in the second frame despite a plethora of chances. Toronto and Ottawa each fired nine shots in the period, but both goalies came up clutch. 

At one point Ottawa forward Emily Clark fed forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis in the slot, but Howe held her off. Maschmeyer stopped Toronto’s momentum several times when she opted to freeze the puck whenever it came near her crease. 

Ottawa found themselves on the penalty kill twice during the second. Ottawa forward Fanni Garát-Gasparics was notably called for boarding with three minutes remaining in the period as the physicality ramped up. Toronto’s powerplay applied significant pressure in Ottawa’s zone but failed to capitalize.

PWHL Toronto forward Blayre Turnbull (40) chases PWHL Ottawa defender Aneta Tejralova (2) during a Jan. 23, 2024 game at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ont. [Photo by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL]
Coming into the third frame with a one-goal lead, Ottawa looked to finish off their first-ever win at home, but penalties came for them again. 

Toronto had two power play opportunities in the third period. However, Ottawa’s penalty kill denied them both with determined performances from its special teams units. 

“The willingness to block shots and just sort of gut it out,” MacLeod said. “It’s a bit of a tougher role at times, you gotta be willing to sacrifice your body.”

Toronto’s final power play came from an untimely slashing penalty on Clark with just over two minutes to go in regulation. 

Toronto opted to pull Howe with a minute and 30 seconds remaining on the clock for the 6-on-4 advantage. However, Ottawa forward Lexie Adzija buried the empty net dagger as her zone-clearing attempt sent the puck riding around the boards and trickling into the yawning cage, securing the home victory.

Ottawa players lifted their sticks as a deafening ovation rained down on them from the near-capacity crowd. 

“Just to be in that moment with the fans was incredible,” Maschmeyer said.

Even MacLeod said she can’t help but take in the show her team puts on in front of her every game. 

“I’ve got a pretty great seat in this rink to watch a great hockey team play every night,” MacLeod said.

Ottawa takes on Boston to finish their three-game homestand Jan. 24 at TD Place Arena at 7 p.m.

Featured image by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL.

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