Mrazova nets OT winner to lift Charge past Sceptres 2-1, clinch PWHL playoff berth

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Members of the Ottawa Charge celebrate their win over the Toronto Sceptres during overtime in a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Mannon McMahon (18) shoots against the Toronto Sceptres during the third period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Shiann Darkangelo (27) and Brianne Jenner (19) attack as Toronto Sceptres’ Allie Munroe (12), Kali Flanagan (6) and goaltender Kristen Campbell (50) defend the net during the third period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Emily Clark (26) skates with the puck as Toronto Sceptres’ Renata Fast (14) follows during overtime in a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Sceptres’ Renata Fast (14) and Ottawa Charge’s Brianne Jenner (19) skate after the puck during the third period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Sceptres’ Sarah Nurse (20) and Ottawa Charge’s Shiann Darkangelo (27) skate after the puck during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Sceptres’ Sarah Nurse (20) shoots to score a goal while being defended against by Ottawa Charge’s Ashton Bell (21) and goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Sceptres’ Sarah Nurse (20) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Ottawa Charge during the second period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Brianne Jenner (19) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Sceptres during the secoond period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge’s Gabbie Hughes (17) and Toronto Sceptres’ Renata Fast (14) collide during the third period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Katerina Mrazova scored 2:52 into overtime to lift the Ottawa Charge to a 2-1 regular-season finale win over the Toronto Sceptres and a playoff berth on Saturday.

Brianne Jenner also scored for Ottawa (12-2-4-12). Gwyneth Philips stopped 13 shots.

The Charge came in needing a win of any kind, or a Minnesota loss against Boston later Saturday, to secure their first postseason appearance in the PWHL. Ottawa lost 5-2 to Toronto in the regular-season finale last season needing a regulation win to secure a playoff spot.

Ottawa lost 3-0 to Minnesota on Wednesday with a chance to move six or seven points ahead of the Frost — with either an overtime/shootout win or a regulation win — and clinch a playoff spot.

Sarah Nurse scored for Toronto (12-3-6-9). Kristen Campbell made 22 saves while becoming the fourth PWHL goaltender to reach 1,000 career regular-season saves.

The Sceptres entered the day with a chance to steal first place from Montreal with a win and a New York regulation win over Montreal later Saturday. The top-seeded team entering the postseason gets its choice of opponent for the best-of-five semifinal series.

Both teams’ playoff opponents will be determined Sunday.

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Minnesota Frost forward Katy Knoll (6) scores a goal on Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips (33) during the third overtime period of game 3 of the PWHL final Saturday, May 24, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

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Minnesota Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme (77) celebrates her game-winning goal against the Ottawa Charge with Dominique Petrie (14), Melissa Channell-Watkins (23) and Denisa Krizova (41) during overtime of a PWHL hockey final game, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Ottawa Charge players celebrate after their win over the Montreal Victoire in PWHL hockey playoff action in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, May 16, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Takeaways

Sceptres: Toronto struggled to get shots on net against the Charge, sometimes settling for shots from the point instead of inching closer into the offensive zone to potentially get a better opportunity.

Charge: Ottawa had more offensive volume with shots on net, but didn’t have many threatening chances either in regulation.

Key moment

Mrázová cut across in front in the slot and whipped it past Campbell to the delight of the Charge fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Key stat

Since the February international break, the Charge are 7-1-2-4, the league’s second-best record behind the Sceptres (7-3-1-3) entering Saturday. The Ottawa offense has been leading the way in that span averaging 3.00 goals per game.

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AP Women’s Hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey