Alina Müller and Jamie-Lee Rattray scored less than two minutes apart late in the second period, and the Boston Fleet beat the Ottawa Charge 2-1 on Thursday night to begin a best-of-five semifinal.
Müller took a pass from Jessie Eldridge, split two defenders and sent a shot over the glove of goaltender Sanni Ahola with 2:03 left in the second for her third career playoff goal. Eldridge entered on a four-game point streak, with four goals and three assists to conclude the regular season.
Then Rattray scored one minute, 31 seconds later on a backhand shot through the pads of Ahola.
Boston has never lost a Game 1 in any playoff series, including its trip to the Walter Cup finals in 2024.
Ottawa defender Jocelyne Larocque scored the first goal of the PWHL playoffs on a power play. She tipped in Rory Guilday’s shot with 1:54 left in the first for her second goal of the season.
It was the first time in five meetings this season that a Boston-Ottawa game wasn’t decided in overtime or a shootout.
Up next
Boston hosts Ottawa in Game 2 on Saturday.