The Ottawa 67s weathered an early storm and a relentless offensive attack from the OHA Mavericks to secure a hard-fought 3-2 win. The Mavericks came out flying, dictating the pace and outshooting the 67s 16-10 in the opening frame. Their pressure paid off when Lucie Stepanova, assisted by Jade Pelland and Amelia Leonard, found the back of the net midway through the period to give OHA a 1-0 lead. Ottawa's Quinn Toll found herself in the penalty box twice in the first, but the 67s managed to kill off both minors to keep the deficit at one. The story of the period, and indeed the game, was Ottawa goaltender Ava Lund-Fouquette. Despite the official stats not tracking her saves, the sheer volume of shots—47 total for the Mavericks—tells the tale of a spectacular performance between the pipes to keep her team in contention.
Ottawa found their footing in the second period. Quinn Toll redeemed her earlier penalties by burying an even-strength goal, assisted by Maude McCarthy, to tie the game at 1-1. The momentum was short-lived, however, as a penalty to Hannah Cryan for head contact gave the Mavericks a power play. Teresa Christensen capitalized, converting a setup from Sophie Dedobbelaer to restore OHA's lead at 2-1. The period was a chippy one, with four more minors called, but Lund-Fouquette stood tall, turning away 15 more Maverick shots to keep the game within reach heading into the final frame.
The third period was a masterclass in opportunistic scoring and clutch goaltending. Just 48 seconds into the period, Ella Robertson struck for Ottawa, with Polly Almstedt and Jane Synott earning the helpers, to knot the game at 2-2 and swing the momentum decisively. Less than a minute later, a hooking penalty to the Mavericks' Addison Gray gave the 67s a crucial power play. Quinn Toll stepped up once more, delivering the game-winning goal on the man-advantage, with Ciena Tagapulot providing the assist to complete her two-point night. From there, the 67s locked it down defensively, blocking shots and relying on Lund-Fouquette, who faced a staggering 16 shots in the third period alone, to preserve the 3-2 lead. The Mavericks' Yael Fatiev made 12 saves in the loss, but it was Ottawa's resilience and Lund-Fouquette's implied heroic effort that sealed a dramatic comeback victory.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875