OTTAWA (Interstat) — Gwyneth Philips made 41 saves for a shutout, and the Ottawa Charge scored three unanswered goals to defeat the Toronto Sceptres 3-0 on April 25 at TD Place in a Professional Women’s Hockey League game. The Charge improved to 17-13. The Sceptres dropped to 11-19. Philips was named Ottawa’s top star after stopping all 41 shots she faced. Ottawa led 1-0 after the second period and pulled away in the third.

Fanuza Kadirova opened the scoring at 4:08 of the second period, with Michela Cava assisting. Kadirova finished with a goal on three shots. Cava recorded an assist and three shots. The Charge protected the one-goal lead through the middle of the period, with Philips turning aside Toronto’s pressure. Toronto could not convert, and Ottawa carried its advantage into the intermission.

Ottawa’s Taylor House was called for illegal body checking at 5:21 of the second period. Alexa Vasko received an illegal body checking penalty at 11:47 of the second. The Charge killed off both penalties. Sarah Wozniewicz doubled the lead 1:03 into the third period, with Brianne Jenner assisting. Wozniewicz had a goal on three shots and three hits. Jenner added an assist and one shot.

Emma Greco was penalized for hooking at 6:09 of the third period, but Toronto could not score on the power play. Vasko sealed the win with a goal at 15:38 of the third. Vasko finished with a goal on two shots, two penalty minutes and two hits. Ottawa’s defense limited Toronto’s chances after the Vasko goal, and Philips completed the shutout.

Jocelyne Larocque contributed two shots and three hits for Ottawa. Rebecca Leslie recorded four shots and two hits. Kathryn Reilly had two shots, and Kateřina Mrázová added one shot. Toronto generated 41 shots on goal, but Philips denied every attempt. Ottawa’s victory came after the Charge had won three straight entering the game and continued their push in the PWHL standings.

The Charge had also won the most recent meeting between the teams, a 2-0 decision, while Toronto had taken the prior matchup 2-1. Ottawa entered the game following a 2-1 overtime win at Boston in its previous outing and a 5-1 home win over New York before that. Toronto had lost 1-0 in overtime to New York in its previous game and had dropped four of its past six contests. Ottawa’s penalty kill erased the calls against House, Greco and Vasko. Toronto could not score on those power-play chances.

Philips’ 41 saves came on 41 shots, giving her the win. Vasko was penalized for illegal body checking in the second period and later scored in the third. Wozniewicz’s goal was assisted by Jenner. Kadirova’s goal was assisted by Cava. Cava, Kadirova and Wozniewicz each recorded three shots. Jenner added one shot. Larocque had two shots and three hits. Leslie had four shots and two hits. Reilly had two shots. Mrázová had one shot.

Ottawa had won three straight entering the game. The Charge had beaten Boston in overtime, New York by a 5-1 margin and Toronto by a 2-0 score earlier in the season. Toronto had lost four of its past six games, including an overtime defeat to New York in its previous outing. The Sceptres had also defeated Minnesota and Boston this season.

Ottawa’s top line generated most of the offense. Kadirova, Wozniewicz and Vasko each scored, while Cava and Jenner provided assists. The Charge also received contributions from Larocque, Leslie, Reilly and Mrázová. Ottawa’s 17th win of the season moved the Charge to 17-13. Toronto’s record fell to 11-19 with the loss.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Ottawa with a 55.4 percent probability to win. Ottawa next visits Boston. Toronto continues its schedule.