Minnesota Frost go three overtimes deep before defeating Ottawa for 2-1 advantage in PWHL Finals

As big celebrations go, Frost rookie Katy Knoll’s leap toward the heavens was a modest one after her triple-overtime goal beat Ottawa 2-1 on Saturday afternoon — and night — before 8,098 delighted fans at Xcel Energy Center.

The two teams have played to 2-1 final scores — all in overtime — in each of their first three games in this Walter Cup Finals series. Saturday was the Frost’s fourth consecutive OT game, and it kept them perfect (4-0) in playoff Game 3s, all at home.

“All night long, we were knocking on the door, and it was just a matter of time before we put one in,” Knoll said.

Knoll’s goal gives her team a 2-1 series lead. The Frost will win their second consecutive PWHL championship if they beat Ottawa on Monday in Game 4 at the X.

She scored after absorbing linemate Klara Hymlarova’s blast from the blue line with her chest in front of the goal. She swiped a falling, backhanded shot past Charge goaltender and her former Northeastern teammate Gwyneth Philips, who had made 45 saves. (The Frost’s Maddie Rooney made 36 saves herself and was the game’s second star to Knoll’s first and Philips’ third.)

When Knoll picked herself up, she jumped with both skates into the air. Sort of.

“It wasn’t very high,” Knoll said. “But I was just really excited. I never really have a celebration I go to. I just wanted to celebrate with my teammates.”

She was mobbed by those teammates after a game that lasted nearly five hours and came 10 minutes shy of being a second consecutive full game played there that day.

“It didn’t hurt much,” Knoll said about getting hit by a slap shot. “I don’t know who took it, but kudos to them. They really got everything on it. I thought it’d hurt more, but thankfully it fell down and I got a swing at it.”

Knoll called Saturday’s game the longest she had ever played.

“Our team really dug deep, and I’m just so proud we stuck together,” Knoll said. “It’s really easy in games like that when your chances aren’t bouncing your way to get discouraged. We never wavered in that regard.”

Frost players ate applesauce and goldfish crackers during intermissions and had pizza and smoothies at game’s end. The team’s training staff also had mustard packets stacked between the bench and locker room. Mustard was used as an apparent nutritional supplement during Ottawa’s first-round loss to Montreal in four overtimes.

“Heck yeah,” Knoll said when asked if Saturday’s demanding game was fun. “These are the games you live for.”

Frost coach Ken Klee played in a four-OT game between Pittsburgh and his Washington team during his NHL days in April 1996. It was the longest NHL game in 60 years. The Penguins won 3-2, at 2:15 a.m. Eastern time.

“I do remember that,” Klee said. “It was a long game tonight, but obviously tonight was awesome. What a treat for our fans, what a treat for our team. I can say we’re certainly pleased with the result.”

The Charge now have lost one game in four overtimes and another in three during the playoffs. All seven of their playoff games this season have been decided by one goal. In this year’s regular season, no team had a streak longer than four.

GAME SUMMARY: Frost 2, Charge 1 (3 OT)

“I feel good, a little tired, we have another five-hour game,” Charge star forward Emily Clark said. “Vibes are high. It’s fun. You have to choose how to respond. The story is still unwritten what is ahead of us. Hopefully we make a great story. We have an opportunity to do so.”

The Frost needs one more victory out of two games remaining, Monday in St. Paul and, if needed, Wednesday at Ottawa.

“We know the job’s not done,” Knoll said. “We have one goal at a time.”