Chasing it all game - Pioneer Press

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Chasing it all game

Early goal for Ottawa holds up as Frost can’t get any offense going in their third straight loss

Ottawa Charge forward Tereza Vanisova (19) skates with the puck as Minnesota Frost defenders Mellissa Channell-Watkins (23) and Sophie Jaques (16) defend during the first period of Tuesday’s game in St. Paul. PHOTOS BY ABBIE PARR — ASSOCIATED PRESS

Frost forward Kelly Pannek, right, skates with the puck as Ottawa Charge forward Victoria Bach tries to catch up in Tuesday’s game.

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By Dean Spiros

Special to the Pioneer Press

The game was just over three minutes old Tuesday night at Xcel Energy Center when an uncharacteristic defensive breakdown by the Frost led to an Ottawa goal and a 1-0 lead for the Charge.

Little did the Frost know that the mistake would prove to be the difference in the game, as the Charge was able to make the early lead stand up in a 1-0 victory.

The loss was the third straight for the second-place Frost, who lost 3-2 to New York in a shootout before falling to Montreal 4-2 last week.

Ottawa’s Brianne Jenner scored Tuesday’s lone goal, beating Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney on a wrist shot from between the circles. She was set up by Lino Lakes native Gabbie Hughes, who won a puck battle in the left-wing corner of the Frost’s zone and centered the puck to Jenner.

Center Kelly Pannek was one of the Frost players battling for the puck in the corner.

“I felt like I had (the puck) pinned,” she said. “I was trying to make sure when the player came from behind me that I didn’t get stuck on the wall side. She just picked the puck up and made a quick play to find a girl who was sitting in a soft spot.

“In this league it’s those little plays that make a big difference. That’s one I would rather have back and make a stronger play on.”

The Frost had plenty of time to overcome the mistake, but they were unable to get the equalizer. Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips made 22 saves to pick up the shutout. She wasn’t tested much in the first period but made a handful of key saves the rest of the way.Frost coach Ken Klee called a timeout with just over a minute to play in the third period following an icing call against the Charge. Klee pulled his goaltender, but the Frost were unable to get another shot on goal.

“It seems like we’re getting good scoring chances, but we’re having bad puck luck right now,” Klee said. “We’re not bearing down. It’s hard to say exactly what it is, but we’re trying.

“It’s not like we’re not putting shots to the net, it’s not that we’re not battling and getting to the front of the net. We’ve just got to keep doing it. That’s hockey sometimes. Sometimes, it’s tough and it’s not fair, but that’s the way it goes.”

Pannek said the Frost did some things well despite not being able to put the puck in the net.

“I actually thought we did a nice job in the second and third of getting to the front of the net,” she said. “Every team has great goaltending in this league and you have to make it really hard for them.

“So we have to just keep trusting that we’re doing things the right way and eventually pucks have to go in the net.”

Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod gave Philips a lot of credit for keeping the Frost off the scoreboard.

“It started with her, and being calm back there,” MacLeod said. “From a team perspective, we didn’t veer from things we were trying to do. We had a little dip in the second, but we tried to make sure that getting to our net front was not going to be easy.

“It was a hard-fought game. Minnesota is a great team. We knew we just had to earn it.” said Philips, a rookie who played at Northeastern and earned her first win of the season in her third start.

“It’s nice to see a young player come into this league like Gwyneth has,” MacLeod said. “She’s stepped in with confidence.”

Briefly

The Frost continue to be without injured forwards Grace Zumwinkle and Dominique Petrie. Klee said there is no timetable on their return.