The Ottawa Senators U22 Elite team overcame an early deficit with a dominant second period and timely third-period scoring to defeat their city rivals, the Ottawa 67s, by a 3-1 final. The game was a tale of two goaltending performances, with the Senators' Cameron Garcia turning in a perfect 23-save shutout, while the 67s' Livia Debnarova faced a barrage of 51 shots, making 24 saves to keep her team in the fight.
The 67s struck first, capitalizing on an early Senators penalty. Just over five minutes into the game, Norah Nyaba found the back of the net, assisted by Jane Synott and Ella Robertson, to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Senators responded before the period ended, as Olivia Wallace scored an unassisted marker at the 6:17 mark to knot the game at 1-1. The middle frame was all Senators, as they unleashed 25 shots on Debnarova, but the 67s' netminder stood tall, weathering two minor penalties against her team to keep the score tied heading into the final period.
The Senators' relentless pressure finally broke through in the third. At the 13:38 mark, Rowan Fitchell netted the game-winner, converting a setup from Naomi Chambers and Olivia Wallace to give the Senators their first lead. The 67s, who managed only 7 shots in the final frame against the stifling Senators defense, could not solve Garcia. An empty-net goal from Brooke Glynn, assisted by Megan Hayes with just 49 seconds remaining, sealed the 3-1 victory for the Senators. The win was built on a commanding shot advantage and a rock-solid performance from Garcia in net, who was perfect on the night to backstop her team to a hard-fought city rivalry win.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875