The Ottawa Senators secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over the Windsor Southwest Wildcats in a U22 Elite contest defined by tight checking and a stellar goaltending performance. The game remained a tense, scoreless affair through two periods despite a combined 30 shots, as both netminders stood tall. The Senators' Ivy Nellis, wearing number 35, was a brick wall, turning aside all 23 shots she faced to earn a clean sheet. Her counterpart, Shannon Henshaw of the Wildcats, was nearly as brilliant, making 29 saves and keeping her team in the hunt until the final minutes. The physical play ramped up in the second period, with the Senators' Keara Kiley receiving a major penalty and game misconduct for charging, forcing Ottawa to kill off a crucial five-minute disadvantage, which they did successfully to maintain the deadlock.
The game's turning point came in the third period as the Senators began to tilt the ice, outshooting the Wildcats 16-9. The breakthrough finally arrived at 16:18 when Emerson MacDonald, assisted by Avery Wojtyk and Ella Fridgen, found the back of the net for the game-winning goal. The Senators then clamped down defensively, limiting Windsor's chances. With Henshaw pulled for an extra attacker in the final minute, Ottawa sealed the deal on an empty-net goal by Brooke Glynn, assisted by Olivia Wallace, with just 1:09 remaining on the clock.
The win was a testament to Ottawa's defensive discipline and resilience, especially after facing a major penalty. While the Wildcats' effort, led by Henshaw's strong play in net, kept them competitive, they couldn't solve Nellis, who backstopped the Senators to a crucial shutout victory. The two third-period goals were enough to decide a game where every inch of ice was fiercely contested.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875