Emily Clark’s OT goal lifts Charge over Frost 2-1 in final series opener

OTTAWA Ontario AP Emily Clark scored at of overtime on Tuesday night to lead the Ottawa Charge to a - win over the Minnesota Frost With the win the Charge take a - lead in the Professional Women s Hockey League best-of-five championship series for the Walter Cup Battle in the series is Thursday in Ottawa Ottawa is a perfect - on home ice through the playoffs The Frost have never won Meeting of a playoff series in four attempts Clark came down the wing and wired a shot past Nicole Hensley who finished the encounter with saves The encounter required extra time after Gwyneth Philips had a rare miscue early in the third period leading to the Frost s tying goal Philips who stopped shots mishandled the puck while attempting to play it turning it over to Katy Knoll Knoll hurriedly fed a pass to Klara Hymlarova who buried the wide-open chance to tie the encounter - With remaining in regulation the Charge were set to go on the power play but agents then reviewed an happening that saw Rebecca Leslie cross check Mellissa Channell-Watkins It was initially assessed as a major but then downgraded to a minor creating offsetting minors Leslie had brought the crowd to its feet midway through the second period when she beat Hensley high glove side to give Ottawa a - lead Moments earlier the Frost had been generating a number of chances on the power play but Philips was solid As the penalty was expiring the Charge were able to clear the puck with Jocelyne Larocque making a cross-ice pass to Tereza Vanisova who dropped a pass to Leslie Hensley couldn t get a clear view of the shot partially screened by her teammate Lee Stecklein AP Women s Hockey https apnews com hub womens-hockey Source