Austria's Schafzahl scores last-minute winner as PWHL Boston edges Ottawa
Ottawa falls short after erasing 2-goal deficit with Trudeau on hand at TD Place
Boston didn't have its best game, but managed to steal a 3-2 win over host Ottawa on Wednesday night in Professional Women's Hockey League action at TD Place.
With 51.4 seconds remaining in regulation, Theresa Schafzahl scored the game-winning goal to salvage what was an otherwise uninspiring performance for the final 39 minutes.
"I think, you know, our first period was great," said Boston coach Courtney Kessel. "And then I think Ottawa just outplayed us.
"I think they were hungrier. They were jumping on loose pucks and I think we've got to find a way to play three solid periods."
WATCH l Schafzahl lifts Boston over Ottawa in final minute:
Homecoming for Rattray
It was a homecoming for Jamie Lee Rattray, who also scored for Boston (2-0-2) along with Alina Müller. Aerin Frankel turned away 37 shots in an impressive outing.
Rattray, who grew up in the suburb of Kanata, Ont., played her minor hockey career in Ottawa and was thrilled to score her first PWHL goal with her parents and friends on hand.
"It's always fun coming home," said Rattray. "This building is super fun.
"I used to come here and watch the [Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa] 67's games all the time and it has so much character to it ... your first goal is always fun and to do it here is pretty special."
Sandra Abstreiter made her PWHL debut between the pipes for Ottawa, but was injured after allowing Boston's second goal and left the game after making 10 saves. There was no update on Abstreiter following the game.
Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 18-of-19 shots in relief.
Boston got off to a great start, scoring twice in the first period. Coming into the game, Boston had yet to score a first-period goal on the season.
Müller opened the scoring at 8:38 with a power-play goal, beating Abstreiter from the blue line.
Rattray extended Boston's lead with 2:23 remaining when Sophie Shirley sent a cross-crease pass her way and she scored her first goal of the season.
'The resiliency is incredible'
However, Ottawa took control from there. The home team outshot the visitors 32-19 through the final 40 minutes.
"It wasn't a great start, we know that," said Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod. "It's a couple games in a row here so we'll keep working on that, but the resiliency is incredible."
In a battle along the boards, Boston turned the puck over and Natalie Snodgrass put the puck on net where Della Rovere was able to tap it past Frankel at 15:34 of the second period for her first of the season.
KDR 🤝 first PWHL goal<br><br>Della Rovere gets the perfect deflection to beat Frankel for her first! <a href="https://t.co/Q6GV8PvV5j">pic.twitter.com/Q6GV8PvV5j</a>
—@PWHL_OttawaThe 23-year-old Della Rovere has been in and out of the lineup this season and was thrilled to be able to contribute and have an impact on the game.
Adzija tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal 3:46 into the third period, extending her point streak to five games (three goals, two assists).
"She's fierce and she's a heck of a player," MacLeod said of Adzija. "She's got a real knack around the net and she's willing to go to the net and she's a tough gal to move once she's there."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on hand for Wednesday's game and provided a pre-game speech to Ottawa's team. The game saw players represent nine different countries which was the most in any PWHL matchup this season. In addition to Canada and the United States, the countries represented were the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Japan, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland.
WATCH l Ottawa beats Toronto for 1st home win:
Montreal hosts Ottawa on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, with live coverage on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
Boston hosts Minnesota on Saturday.
The full schedule of PWHL games airing on CBC Sports this season is available here.
