The Cambridge Rivulettes and East Ottawa Stars delivered a tense, penalty-filled affair where special teams decided the outcome, with Cambridge emerging with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. The game's tone was set early, as the Rivulettes' aggressive forecheck generated a 15-7 shot advantage in the opening frame. They capitalized on their first power play opportunity when Avery Randall, wearing number 27, found the back of the net at the 3:31 mark, assisted by Rachael Burt and Emersyn Miller. The period wasn't without consequence for Cambridge, however, as Jenna Charron took a costly double-minor for head contact late in the period, giving the Stars a significant chance to respond.
East Ottawa found their answer in the second period on the power play. After a Rivulettes penalty for too many players, the Stars' Molly Cote, number 92, tied the game at 1-1 with a goal assisted by Annie McDonell and Genevieve Bisson. The middle frame was a parade to the penalty box, with five minors called, disrupting the flow for both sides. Despite the Stars drawing even, Cambridge's netminder Courtney Beeksma stood tall, turning aside all nine second-period shots to keep the game level heading into the final twenty minutes.
The third period was a masterclass in pressure from the Rivulettes, who unleashed 14 shots while holding the Stars to just four. The decisive moment came almost immediately in the period, as Reese Reid, number 4, restored Cambridge's lead on the power play just 25 seconds in, with Rachael Burt earning her second helper of the night alongside Quinn Carswell. From there, the Rivulettes clamped down defensively. Despite a late flurry of penalties, including a pair of hooking minors to Avery Randall, Cambridge's penalty kill and the stellar goaltending of Courtney Beeksma, who finished with a perfect 20-save performance for the win, sealed the narrow victory. Anna Rioux was valiant in defeat for East Ottawa, facing a barrage of 37 shots. In a game dominated by special teams, the Rivulettes' efficiency with the extra attacker proved to be the ultimate difference.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875