Game 1: Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 7 p.m. ET | Tsongas Center
WATCH LIVE: NESN, Scripps Sports Network, TSN 1/3, TSN.ca, TSN App, PWHL YouTube & thepwhl.com (U.S. / International), More
Kenzie Lalonde (Play-by-Play), Cheryl Pounder (Analyst), Natalie Noury (Reporter)
OTTAWA CHARGE
9-8-1-12 | 44 PTS | 4TH PLACE
Top Scorer: Brianne Jenner – 30 GP, 12-14-26 PTS
Special Teams: PP 17.8% (3) | PK 81/8% (6)
BOSTON FLEET
16-5-4-5 | 62 PTS | 2ND PLACE
Top Scorer: Jessie Eldridge – 30 GP, 14-9-23 PTS
Special Teams: PP 14.0% (5) | PK 91.6% (2)
2026 PWHL WALTER CUP PLAYOFFS: BEST-OF-FIVE SEMIFINAL SERIES
Game 1 at BOS (Apr. 30) | Game 2 at BOS (May 2) | Game 3 at OTT (May 8) | Game 4 at OTT (May 10) | Game 5 at BOS (TBD)
2025-26 SEASON SERIES: OTTAWA WON 7-5 IN POINTS (BOSTON LEADS 24-21 IN POINTS ALL-TIME)
Dec. 27 at OTT: 3-2 OTT (SO) | Jan. 11 at BOS (HALIFAX): 2-1 OTT (SO) | Feb. 28 at OTT: 3-2 BOS (SO) | Apr. 22 at BOS: 2-1 OTT (OT)
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
All four games between these teams in 2025-26 were decided in overtime or shootout, with Ottawa winning three. There have been 15 games between these teams all-time and each has four OT/SO wins, and Boston has a 4-3 edge in regulation wins. The cumulative score of all head-to-head results is 33-33. One of these teams will advance to its second Walter Cup Finals after Boston lost in 2024 and Ottawa lost in 2025, both to Minnesota. Neither team has ever lost Game 1 in any series.
Boston was a perfect 4-0 in overtime games in its lone playoff appearance, including a three-game sweep in overtime against Montréal in the semifinals, and a Game 4 2OT win in Minnesota to extend the finals. Ottawa went 1-4 beyond regulation last postseason, losing to Montréal in 4OT in the semifinal round and then playing four straight overtime games against Minnesota in the finals, never once losing in regulation.
The Fleet saw an increase from 44 points last season to 62 this season, the largest increase by any team. Boston scored one fewer goal this season (from 75 to 74) but allowed 31 fewer goals (from 76 to 45).
The Charge finished with the same number of points this season as they had last season (44) but got there with different records (12-2-4-12 in 2024-25, 9-8-1-12 this season). Ottawa’s six overtime wins and eight total wins beyond regulation are the most by a team in a PWHL regular season all-time.
Brianne Jenner led the season series with four points (2G, 2A), including the OT winner at the Tsongas Center on Apr. 22. She also scored on four of seven shootout attempts against the Fleet. The Charge captain finished the season with a four-game point streak (3G, 4A), leading her team to four straight victories. Last season, she scored the first playoff goal in team history.
Megan Keller finished the season with a three-game point streak (4A) and tied the PWHL single-season record for points by a defender with 22 (7G, 15A). She also recorded her 50th career point, just the second defender to reach the milestone. The Fleet captain had three assists in four games against Ottawa this season, but the Charge were the only team against whom Keller finished with a negative rating (-1).
Jessie Eldridge has played in 84 career regular season games, the most of any player in the league’s first three seasons without experiencing the playoffs. The Fleet forward finished the campaign with a four-game point streak (4G, 3A) and 10 points in her last eight games (7G, 3A).
Rebecca Leslie had two goals in 24 games with Toronto in 2024 and one goal in 27 games with Ottawa last season, but she led her hometown team with 14 in 30 games this season, tied with Eldridge for two off the league lead. She had three goals in four games against the Fleet this season, tied for her most against any opponent (also Vancouver).
The battle between the pipes features former Northeastern teammates and Team USA’s Olympic gold medal-winning tandem Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips. Frankel played all four games of the season series (1.62 GAA, .926 SV%) and Philips played three times (1.55 GAA, .940 SV%).
Ottawa has three Walter Cup champions on its roster, including Michela Cava who is second in all-time playoff scoring with 13 points (7G, 6A) in 18 games with Minnesota. She has won five straight pro championships, previously in the PHF, ZhHL and SDHL. Charge forward Brooke McQuigge (2025) and defender Emma Greco (2024) also won with the Frost. Liz Schepers scored the Walter Cup-winning goals in back-to-back years before joining Boston. Her eight points (3G, 5A) in 18 playoff games is tied for sixth all-time.
Susanna Tapani led Boston in 2024 playoff scoring with three goals and four points in eight games, and Emily Clark led Ottawa in 2025 playoff scoring with three goals and five points in eight games. The Fleet return eight players from its 2024 run to the finals, while the Charge return 11 from its 2025 run.
As many as 15 Fleet (including reserves) could make their playoff debuts in the series. Excluding rookies and behind Eldridge (84 GP), the most experienced veterans without past playoff games include Jill Saulnier (67), Shay Maloney (60) and Daniela Pejšová (55). Up to 12 Charge players (including reserves) could make their playoff debuts, most notably three-year defender Brooke Hobson with 76 career games played.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Boston’s had a great year right from the start. I heard their Head Coach Kris Sparre talk in the offseason on how he wanted to have a relentless team and a hard team to play against. They certainly have lived up to that. So, we know we've got to match it, or even elevate beyond it potentially. I think there's a lot of similarities to the style of play between both teams and I think that's why the regular season series was so tight between us. I anticipate nothing but a phenomenal series. It’s going to come down to a couple of different opportunities and how you capitalize on them.” - Charge Head Coach Carla MacLeod.
“We’ve felt like we have a really special group since day one of Training Camp. I think you’ve seen it throughout the regular season, but we just enjoy being around each other. Obviously, this is the most exciting time of the year. At the end of the season you want to be playing for a Walter Cup and our group couldn’t be more excited to get playoffs going at home against Ottawa.” – Fleet Captain Megan Keller
THURSDAY’S GAME: The 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs, presented by SharkNinja, begin tonight at the Tsongas Center with Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series between Boston and Ottawa, the first-ever playoff meeting between the teams. Tonight will be the first-ever playoff game in April and the fifth playoff game in Boston’s PWHL history played at the Tsongas Center and first since May 29, 2024, when Minnesota captured the inaugural season title in a decisive Game 5. The Fleet went 2-2 on home ice during their inaugural playoff run and were 9-1-1-2 on home ice this season, including a 6-1-1-0 record in Lowell, with their only loss in overtime to the Charge last Wednesday in the fourth straight head-to-head game decided beyond regulation. Ottawa went 1-3 on the road in the 2025 playoffs and 2-4-0-7 in opposing PWHL markets this season. Both teams will debut Walter Cup crests on their jerseys and helmet stickers that will be worn for the duration of the postseason. Tonight’s referees are Grace Barlow and David Elford, with linespersons Patrick Dapuzzo and Laura Gutauskas. Following the game, fans can tune-in for live reaction with Jocks in Jills streaming on the league’s YouTube channel.