PWHL Ottawa still trying to find answers on the road — and after regulation time ends

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The struggles on the road continue for PWHL Ottawa, and things won’t get any easier for the club until close to the end of the month.

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Ottawa’s 4-3 loss to Minnesota in a shootout on Tuesday night was its first of four straight road games. Ottawa, which has a league-low eight points in seven games away from home, will next play Sunday at Montreal, which entered play Wednesday tied with Minnesota for top spot in league standings.

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That 4 p.m. matchup at Place Bell in Montreal will be followed by a 6 p.m. start in Boston on Saturday, March 16, and a 7 p.m. game in New York on Wednesday, March 20.

Ottawa will finally return home to TD Place Arena for a 1 p.m. matinée against Toronto on Saturday, March 23.

On Wednesday, Ottawa sat fifth in the sixth-team league, a single point up on New York.

On Tuesday night, Denisa Krizova scored her first two goals of the season and Taylor Heise added the game-winner in a shootout as Minnesota topped Ottawa for its fourth straight win head-to-head.

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Besides its struggles as the visitor, Ottawa also can’t seem to find the answer when games go into overtime. Tuesday’s loss left the club winless in five games that have extended past regulation.

For Minnesota, it was its first shootout game.

Krizova, Grace Zumwinkle and Heise — playing in her first home game since Jan. 24 due to injury — all scored in the shootout and goaltender Maddie Rooney only allowed one goal.

Krizova gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead with 8:38 left in the first period and she tied it at 3-3 midway through the third. Rooney, coming off a shutout win over New York on Sunday, made 22 saves to pick up her fourth victory of the season.

Katerina Mrazova scored two goals for Ottawa to reach six on the season. Hayley Scamurra scored once and Sandra Abstreiter made 43 saves on 46 shots.

Ottawa and Minnesota won’t meet each other again until they face off in Ottawa on April 20.

With files from Postmedia

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