OTTAWA, ON – Grace Zumwinkle scored her team-best seventh goal of the season to lead Minnesota to a 2-1 victory in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon.
The game was the second in a row between the two teams in four days, with each contest ending 2-1 in favour of Minnesota.
Zumwinkle scored the eventual game winner with just 19 seconds remaining in the second period to break the tie and give her team a 2-1 lead.
The first-year pro took the original shot on the play which ended up on teammate Maggie Flaherty’s stick at the point after the puck was fired wide. Flaherty then took a shot from the point, which hit traffic in front, but Zumwinkle was able to pounce on the loose puck in the slot and put it past Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer.
Minnesota’s Sophia Kunin was the first to get on the board in the game, scoring her second goal of the season at 18:33 of the first period give her team a 1-0 lead.
The goal, unassisted, was scored on a breakaway that was created after two Ottawa players collided. Kunin was then in all alone from the blue line and utilized a slick deke to slide the puck in five-hole.
Ottawa’s Emily Clark was finally able to get the home team on the board on what was their 18th shot on goal at 10:04 of the second period.
Clark finished off a passing play created after teammate Aneta Tejralová held the puck in the offensive zone at the blueline. Forward Gabbie Hughes then picked up the puck at the hashmarks before passing it across to teammate Amanda Boulier who found Clark back-door for the tap-in tally.
Despite a furious finish to the game in which Ottawa pulled Maschmeyer for the 6-on-5 advantage, Minnesota goaltender Nicole Hensley came up big several times to secure a critical three points for the regulation victory.
Hensley made 28 saves to secure her fifth win of the season. Maschmeyer stopped 22 shots in the loss.
With the win, Minnesota adds to their lead in the standings where they now sit four points ahead of Montréal and Toronto.
Next up, Minnesota has a quick turnaround as they head to Montréal for a game tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. ET at Place Bell. The next afternoon, Ottawa plays in Boston at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell for a Presidents’ Day tilt— the game was originally scheduled for January 8 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Ottawa Forward Emily Clark (26) battles Minnesota Defender Lee Stecklein (2) during first period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Minnesota Goalie Nicole Hensley (29) retrieves her stick during first period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Ottawa Forward Katerina Mrazova (16) pins Minnesota Defender Lee Stecklein (2) against the boards during first period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Ottawa Defender Amanda Boulier (28) battles Minnesota Forward Michela Cava (86) for the puck during second period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Ottawa Defender Savannah Harmon (15) skates with the puck out from behind the net of Goalie Emerance Maschmeyer (38) chased by Minnesota Forward Kendall Coyne Schofield (26) during second period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Ottawa Goalie Emerance Maschmeyer (38) keeps eyes on the play during second period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Minnesota Forward Grace Zumwinkle (13) celebrates her goal with teammates including Forward Kelly Pannek (12), Defender Emma Greco (25) and Defender Maggie Flaherty (19)during second period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Ottawa Forward Gabbie Hughes (17) battles Minnesota Defender Lee Stecklein (2) in front of Goalie Nicole Hensley (29) during third period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Minnesota Defender Natalie Buchbinder (22) skates after the puck chased by Ottawa Forward Kristin Della Rovere (25) during third period Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Minnesota Goalie Nicole Hensley (29) celebrates the win with Forward Denisa Krizova (41) after Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action between Minnesota and Ottawa on February 17, 2024, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
