The Boston Fleet kicked off their best-of-five PWHL semifinal series with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge on Thursday night, thanks to a lightning-fast scoring burst late in the second period.

With the game tied 1-1, Alina Müller turned on the jets, receiving a crisp pass from Jessie Eldridge before splitting two defenders and firing a shot over goaltender Sanni Ahola's glove with just 2:03 left in the period. It was Müller's third career playoff goal, a clutch moment that electrified the crowd in Lowell, Massachusetts.

But Boston wasn't done yet. Just 91 seconds later, Jamie Lee Rattray doubled the lead with a backhand shot that squeaked through Ahola's pads, giving the Fleet a commanding 2-1 advantage heading into the final frame.

The quick-strike offense was a testament to Boston's depth, especially with Eldridge extending her point streak to four games. The forward entered the playoffs red-hot, tallying four goals and three assists to close out the regular season.

Ottawa struck first in this defensive battle, with defender Jocelyne Larocque scoring the first goal of the PWHL playoffs. She tipped in Rory Guilday's shot on a power play with 1:54 remaining in the first period, marking just her second goal of the season.

Remarkably, this was the first time in five meetings between these two teams this season that the game didn't require overtime or a shootout to decide the winner. Boston also maintained their perfect Game 1 record in playoff history, including their run to the Walter Cup finals in 2024.

For fans of Boston Fleet hockey, this win signals a team that knows how to rise to the occasion when it matters most. As the series shifts to Ottawa, the Fleet will look to carry this momentum—and their knack for timely scoring—into Game 2.