Finally, after a month-plus long wait, the January 8^th showdown between PWHL Ottawa and PWHL Boston got underway on February 19^th. Both teams are trending in very different directions than they were at the start of the year. Coming into the game, Ottawa was riding a 5-game losing streak, while Boston held a 3-game losing streak of their own, making this game a prime opportunity for both groups to get their game back on track. Ottawa once again went with Emerance Maschmeyer in goal, continuing her streak of appearing in every Ottawa game this season. Courtney Kessel decided to go back to Aerin Frankel.

               The first period got off to a hot start for Ottawa, something that they needed desperately. Just over eight minutes into their sustained pressure, Daryl Watts got Ottawa on the board with assists from Brianne Jenner and Aneta Tejralová. Boston would even the pressure by the end of the first but were unable to find the equalizer. It would not take long into the second period for Taylor Girard to answer for Boston (assists from Megan Keller and Loren Gabel). Boston sustained pressure until taking a string of penalties just past the 11-minute mark. Gabbie Hughes would beat Frankel on a broken play toward the end of the power play (assists from Emily Clark and Savannah Harmon). Boston did not take this lying down; however, as Abby Cook would score her first goal since being traded from Minnesota last weekend to even the score (assists from Megan Keller and Hilary Knight). The game settled down very briefly, but with 11-seconds left in the 2^nd period Gabbie Hughes struck again shorthanded to regain the lead for Ottawa with an assist from Emily Clark. The third period effectively became the Emerance Maschmeyer show as she was exceptional under duress against Boston’s best. With 45-seconds left in the third period, Brianne Jenner banked in the empty-net goal to put Ottawa up 4-2.

               Overall, Maschmeyer once again showed the PWHL faithful that she is among the, if not the best goalie in the league. After a rough spell for the team, it was a huge positive for Ottawa to see Gabbie Hughes record a two-goal night and generate some momentum for herself as the back half of the season approaches. For Boston, there weren’t a lot of positives. Megan Keller has been on a heater recently, and it was great to see her upward trajectory continue, but Courtney Kessel has consistently failed to adjust and adapt her team’s structure in either the offensive and defensive zones, and it’s not cost Boston for the 4^th straight game. This team has too much talent to allow this many guaranteed scoring opportunities to high-end skill players open with the puck on their tape. If adjustments aren’t made soon, Boston will find themselves plummeting further down the standings.