A Night of Firsts and 1,000 Saves: Vasko Shines as Maschmeyer Exits in Charge Win

A milestone, a breakthrough, and a test of resilience, Tuesday night’s matchup at TD Place had it all. The Ottawa Charge fought off a late push from the Minnesota Frost to earn a 3-2 victory, but the win didn’t come without its challenges.

Forward Alexa Vasko made her mark in a big way, scoring her first career PWHL goal and the game-winner while veteran goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer became the first netminder in league history to surpass 1,000 career saves. However, what should have been a night of celebration took a concerning turn when Maschmeyer left the game due to injury with minutes left in the third period.

Maschmeyer’s Milestone and Sudden Exit

Maschmeyer was a wall in net, making key saves to keep the Frost at bay. The 30-year-old goaltender hit the 1,000-save mark early in the third period, an unprecedented feat in PWHL regular-season play. Just moments later, Taylor Heise’s shot found the back of the net, cutting Ottawa’s lead to 2-1.

The Charge’s momentum took another hit minutes later when Maschmeyer was involved in a collision near the crease. She remained down for several moments before needing assistance off the ice, leaving the Ottawa crowd in stunned silence. Gwyneth Philips stepped in to close out the game, facing two shots in relief.

Vasko’s Big Moment

With the game tied 2-2 late in the third, Ottawa found itself in a shorthanded situation, but Vasko turned adversity into opportunity. Capitalizing on a turnover, she broke free for a ‘jailbreak’ goal, slipping the puck past Minnesota’s Maddie Rooney to put the Charge ahead for good. It was a statement moment for the 25-year-old forward, who also recorded a goal earlier in the game.

“It was unfortunate to see Maschmeyer go out, but we have huge confidence in Gwyneth (Philips) and I think we rallied as a group,” said Vasko. “We’re a family and we would run through a wall for each other. That’s just how we play.”

Charge captain Brianne Jenner emphasized the importance of finding their playoff mentality early. “It’s huge at this point of the season. Our goal is to get a playoff spot, but we also have to figure out how we play our playoff hockey style. Tonight, we had glimpses of that.”

Notable Stats and Performances

• Maschmeyer’s Milestone: First goaltender in PWHL history to surpass 1,000 regular-season saves.
• Vasko’s Breakout: First PWHL goals and first ‘jailbreak’ goal by an Ottawa player since Feb. 13.
• Jenner’s Power Play Strength: Third goal of the season, all against Minnesota, two on the power play.
• Savolainen’s Short-Handed Presence: League leader in shorthanded assists (2), tying Boston’s Alina Müller in short-handed points.

The Charge will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup against Boston on Saturday at 2pm EST.