The PWHL this week: Ottawa back in playoff picture after busy trade deadline

Looking at his roster after 17 games and sitting one point out of the playoff picture, PWHL Ottawa GM Mike Hirshfeld felt like his team was close to firing on all cylinders.

Ottawa has lost six games in overtime this season; more than any other team. Three regulation losses were decided by one goal.

Despite what the standings have shown, there have been things to like about Ottawa's play. That includes two balanced power-play units clicking at nearly 27 per cent — the best in the league.

Hirshfeld was the most active GM on trade deadline day, acquiring a top-six forward in Tereza Vanišová and a bottom-six veteran centre in Shiann Darkangelo. They're players Hirshfeld feels could put his team over the edge in the close games that haven't been going Ottawa's way.

A big 3-0 win Wednesday over New York, combined with a Boston regulation loss, vaulted Ottawa into the final playoff spot. The regulation win also took points away from New York, making it harder to catch Ottawa.

To get the win, Ottawa weathered being down two players for two minutes in the third period.

"I think it was a big moment for us," head coach Carla MacLeod said about the long penalty kill. "Because it was done so well with all those blocked shots, it really does rally a group. I think it gave us a little bit of our energy back."

Next up for Ottawa is a game against Toronto on Saturday. The league will break for the world championship next Tuesday and resume on April 18.

On the second day of the PWHL season, in front of more than 8,000 fans inside TD Place, it looked like Mikyla Grant-Mentis had scored the first goal in Ottawa franchise history.

The goal was overturned after it became apparent the puck went under the net. But it's a moment Grant-Mentis