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Ottawa Charge

The Charge’s Five-Game Point Streak Is Pointing Them in the Right Direction

With a five-game point streak and offensive production, the Charge are surging toward a Walter Cup Playoff spot.

The Charge’s Five-Game Point Streak Is Pointing Them in the Right Direction
Gabbie Hughes celebrates overtime goal against the New York Sirens on Feb. 26. (Photo Credit: PWHL)

The Ottawa Charge are heating up at the perfect time. After an up-and-down start to the season, the team has found consistency, picking up points in five straight games. With a tight playoff race in the PWHL, every point matters, and this stretch has kept them firmly in the hunt for a Walter Cup Playoff spot.

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What’s Fueling Ottawa’s Hot Streak?

1. Gabbie Hughes is leading the Charge

Hughes was the hero in Ottawa’s latest win, tallying three points, including the overtime winner. Over the last five games, she’s been a dominant offensive force with eight points (5G, 3A), making her one of the most productive players in the league since returning from the international break.

She now sits third on the team in scoring with 10 points (5G, 5A) in 19 games, showing that she’s finding her offensive touch at the perfect time.

2. Emily Clark’s consistency

Clark extended her point streak to six games after notching a goal and an assist against New York. Over this stretch, she has been one of Ottawa’s most reliable forwards, amassing four goals and five assists (9 points).

She now leads the Charge in scoring with 14 points (7G, 7A) in 20 games, proving to be an essential piece of Ottawa’s offensive engine.

3. Stephanie Markowski making an impact

Rookie defender Stephanie Markowski continues to impress, recording two assists in the last game, including one that led to Taylor House’s first PWHL goal. One game earlier, Markowski netted her first career goal, and she’s quickly showing she can be a key playmaker from the back end.

Her defensive reliability, combined with her increasing offensive production, gives Ottawa much-needed depth on the blue line.

4. Goaltending holding steady

Ottawa’s defensive play has been anchored by Gwyneth Philips and Emerance Maschmeyer, giving the Charge a strong tandem in net.

Philips has been excellent, securing a big win over Montreal and proving she can handle pressure situations.

Maschmeyer leads the PWHL in saves (430) and picked up her third win of the season against New York, making 27 saves on the night. She also tallied a rare goalie assist on the overtime winner, showing her ability to contribute in multiple ways.

If both goaltenders continue their strong play, Ottawa will be a tough team to break down down the stretch.

5. Team resilience and late-game execution

Before the game against New York, Ottawa was the only team in the PWHL without an overtime win. That changed when Hughes buried the OT winner just 36 seconds into extra time, giving the Charge their first win beyond regulation.

This kind of late-game success will be crucial if Ottawa wants to secure a playoff spot, as nearly every game in this tight league could come down to a single goal.

Can Ottawa Keep This Going?

The Playoff Picture

With 27 points (7-1-4-8), Ottawa currently sits fifth in the PWHL standings, trailing the playoff cutoff by just a few points. Their five-point cushion over last-place New York is encouraging, but they need to keep stacking wins to secure a top-four spot for the postseason.

Key Factors Moving Forward:

Sustained Offensive Production – The Charge have struggled with goal-scoring consistency at times, but with Hughes, Clark, and Markowski stepping up, their attack is finding more rhythm.

Special Teams Execution – The Charge went 0-for-3 on the power play against New York while allowing a power-play goal against. Improving their special teams could be a deciding factor in close games.

Goaltending Rotation – With Philips and Maschmeyer both playing well, Ottawa’s goaltending depth is a major strength. Deciding who gets the biggest starts down the stretch could be key to maximizing their playoff push.

The Charge will now shift their focus to a matchup against Minnesota on March 7th, a game with major playoff implications. With five straight games earning points, their confidence is at an all-time high. If Ottawa can keep up this level of play, they won’t just be fighting for a playoff spot they could be a serious dark horse in the Walter Cup race.

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