Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge Fight for Playoff Spot

Ottawa is one point behind Toronto for the last playoff spot.

The Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge play on Saturday, which could decide their season.

A three-point win gives the Sceptres a cushion, while a regulation or overtime win lets Ottawa take the spot.

New York is three points behind Toronto and two behind Ottawa.

The stakes are high in the Battle of Ontario, which starts at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday on CBC TV and CBC Gem.

Ottawa Charge coach Haley Irwin says the teams will really go at it, and her team has done great things in the last two games.

The Sceptres won the last matchup 2-1 on the road and play Ottawa again on April 25.

Toronto defender Renata Fast expects a close, physical game.

Fast says Ottawa plays a hard game and finishes every hit, making it tough for opponents.

The Sceptres have been a different team since the Olympic break.

The change started when key players were away at the Olympics.

The team felt down before the break, losing seven of eight games.

The players who stayed behind made practice fun and came up with a motto, deciding to be a 'back-14 team'.

When the Olympic players returned, things felt light, and they flipped the script from their Olympic disappointment.

Fast says the team rallied behind the mentality of putting words into action after the Olympics.

The Sceptres shut down four Ottawa power-play chances to win the last game.

Captain Blayre Turnbull was key, adding assists on both goals.

Turnbull has eight points since the Olympics and will do whatever it takes to get her team to the playoffs.

Coach Troy Ryan says Turnbull took control of the game in all aspects.

Ryan praises Turnbull's penalty killing, faceoff circle work, defense, and offense.

Fast says Turnbull knows what the locker room needs and brings calmness.

Turnbull has found a balance between team and individual play, and is being rewarded on the score sheet.

Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner leads the Charge in their quest for the playoffs.

Jenner and Rebecca Leslie have paced the Charge offense, with Fanuza Kadirova and Sarah Wozniewicz as depth options.

Gwyneth Philips is the starting goaltender who has carried a heavy workload.

The Charge had a chance to pass Toronto but lost to Seattle, who kept their playoff hopes alive.

Seattle won 5-3, taking all three points and making Saturday's game a must-win for Ottawa.

A regulation loss would put Toronto in the driver's seat and leave Ottawa with a bigger hole to climb.

Charge forward Gabbie Hughes says the team must stick together and commit to doing the right things.

Both teams know it's their last chance with the same group of players due to expansion and free agency.

This makes players like Fast hungrier for a deep playoff run.

Fast says no one knows what will happen next season, so they're focusing on the urgency and desire to do it now.

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