Ottawa Charge wins Game 3 2-1, leads series 2-1

OTTAWA Ronja Savolainen scored the game-winning goal with 29 seconds left in regulation time Friday, lifting the Ottawa Charge to a 2-1 victory over the Boston Fleet in Game 3 of their Professional Women's Hockey League semifinal series.

The dramatic winner came when Savolainen, a defender, fired a shot that deflected off the end boards and Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel's skate into the net. The victory gives Ottawa a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, positioning the Charge to advance to the Walter Cup final with a win in Game 4 on Sunday at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Fanuza Kadirova opened the scoring for Ottawa late in the first period. With the power play expiring, she took a pass from Katerina Mrazova and slipped a shot from the top of the slot under Frankel's left pad, putting the Charge ahead 1-0.

Boston equalized in the second period at 5:11. After Gwyneth Philips surrendered a rebound on Shay Maloney's shot, Liz Schepers pounced on the loose puck and deposited it into the open side of the net.

The third period proved decisive for Ottawa. Philips turned aside 36 shots overall, including a flurry of three consecutive saves on the Fleet and a goal-line stop on Jamie Lee...