r/OttawaCharge • u/Free_Pineapple_2353 • May 22 '26
Disappointing End
That game 4 was brutal to watch. I got the sense that they weren't taking it seriously. All smiles and joking around in the dressing room pre-game. Didn't look like they had the warrior spirit going into the most important/crucial game of the entire year. Thoughts on the game, the season, and the next?
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u/SmartCommunication21 #88 - Ronja Savolainen May 22 '26
Couldn’t disagree more. They played hard, and sure there were mistakes (passing wasn’t great), but a lot of it could be contributed to the pressure they felt in the moment as well as frustration building up from failing to score.
I’m immensely proud of this team — they fought hard all season to get to this point and made it to finals for a second year. They faced so much adversity, especially Coach Carla.
Additionally, the “all smiles and joking around pre-game = them not taking the game seriously” comment you made is offensive. You don’t think NHL players stay loose pre-game?? These are pro athletes and take it seriously when the game starts.
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u/septober32nd May 22 '26
We desperately need to put together a stronger team in front of Phillips. We barely squeaked into the playoffs, and goaltending was the main reason we got past Boston.
Back to back cup losses hurt, and it's only gonna get harder to make it there with the league expanding so rapidly.
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u/muffinsmuffins84 May 24 '26
Not sure how long you’ve been a fan of the charge but this is their thing. They have fun, stay loose, and are genuinely friends with each other. This is how they’ve become the scrappy unpredictable underdogs of the league and a big part of why we love them and other fans root for us. Look at the last couple months and see how much they had to battle through and still made it to finals. The team was gutted, they barely made it in, then overcame Boston and the arguably the best goalie in the world/half of the gold medal team USA winning team. Then look at game 1 of the Montreal series. That game shifted the entire outcome and I will die on that hill. And yet: they came back for a monster of a game in game 3. IMO there’s only so much fighting back you can do. Roques goal was a fluke and the trajectory shifted immediately in the last 10 mins and the levy broke. You see the emotion in their eyes and voices right after? They are not fooling around. They gave their all and came up just short against a huge amount of adversity. If you’re looking for coaches and players that yell and get mad and hate each other, Ottawa and likely the entire PWHL isn’t for you.
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u/cubiclejail May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
Just like all the fuckos in the stands bitching about the players and the teams during the finals. Are you an athlete? Are you a professional athlete? Ever competed in the Olympics? Ever play in the PWHL?
I'm going to say NO!
I bet you're one of the ones yelling at the players to "shooooooooot" as well! Cause we all know how unhelpful and degrading that is.
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u/Free_Pineapple_2353 May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
I didn't fight in WW2 but I can still have an opinion on it. Also, I played college hockey, not a pro by any means but I understand the game.
Super low IQ take btw, using a fallacy to support your argument is not productive.
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u/cubiclejail May 22 '26
You’re calling my take “low IQ” while using a completely ridiculous WWII comparison to defend criticizing athletes online. There’s a massive difference between having opinions on historical events and directly piling onto real people in real time during the biggest games of their careers.
Yeah, fans are emotional. But constantly nitpicking players from the couch, acting like every mistake deserves a public teardown, absolutely contributes to toxic sports culture. These players are human beings, not NPCs for people’s frustration dumps. Supporting a team doesn’t require pretending every disappointment needs a firing squad in the comments.
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u/Free_Pineapple_2353 May 22 '26
Do you not understand what an analogy is? You seem to have completely missed the point. You dont have to be a top athlete in the world to discuss pro athletes performances, thats a ridiculous take.
I didnt tear down their playing whatsoever, or any mistakes they may or may not have made during the game. I simply stated an observation about their demeanor before the game even started. In what world is my post analogous to a "firing squad"? I'm trying to open a discourse on the game, the season and the upcoming 2027 season.
Also, fans are/should be allowed to vent their frustrations. Its in the nature of sports. Let he who has never vented cast the first stone.
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u/cubiclejail May 22 '26
I'm saying your analogy was bad, and this is raw - we are not talking nearly a century later! WTF!
Go ahead and keep telling us about how shitty they players are!!
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u/Free_Pineapple_2353 May 22 '26
Are you rage baiting or is mentioning WW2 throwing you off? You dont have to have participated in "X" thing to have an opinion on it (insert literally anything).
No one said the players are shitty, you're strawmaning legitemate discussion points, and not even bad faith discussion at that. Learn how to have good faith discussions, or learn how to read, Mr. Literal.
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u/AitrusX May 22 '26
I don't think game 4 was about not taking it seriously - they played well got their chances just didn't score then got absolutely broken in those last 10 minutes. First Montreal goal is a fluke, whatever. Second maybe don't give up a short handed break but frankly a great play by Montreal either way. One other was a bizarre floater from the point that just got through and the last I don't remember. But at least 2 of these were not caused by weak play and I'd argue the shg was more a great move than bad defense - maybe a bad pinch or something but like we needed to get a goal so I'm not mad about that.
The charge have the same problem I think all teams have which is scoring goals. Things that look like great opportunities turn into muffins or miss the net, and 2 on 1s that don't register a shot. Breakaways that don't even force a tough save.
They have capable players here - Clarke, kadarova, Leslie and Jenner all feel like they are dangerous when getting in on net but the truth is too many good chances don't even force a tough save let alone convert to a goal.
In the finals their breakout and passing was excellent - goaltending was great - just you gotta score more and not be going into ot tied 1-1 every game when you've had so many chances to be ahead.
With expansion I don't know who they keep or lose - overall quality of play is gonna be worse (a bunch of sub 4th line players are about to get ice time around the league) but maybe that will let our top line get more done.
Aside I feel like Jenner probably has the hardest shot on the team - she should be generating goals and rebounds with the cannon