Frost return home with 5-2 win against Ottawa

Playing their first game since Dec. 7, the Minnesota Frost extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Charge on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.

Kelly Pannek scored a pair of goals to help the Frost open up a 3-1 lead and, after some anxious moments in the third period, able to secure their first home victory of the season.

“It’s just abut finishing,” Frost coach Ken Klee said of his team’s inability to put the Charge away when they had them down. “That’s something we’ve been making an emphasis in practice.

“And all summer, we thought about how can we figure out ways to score more goals.”

The Frost had the better of the play in the early stages of the first period, but the Charge got on the scoreboard first, with Anna Meixner redirecting a shot from the point past Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney at 7:51.

The Frost needed less than three minutes to pull even when Pannek beat Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips on a backhander at 10:50.

Pannek’s second goal of the game, which came on a power play, gave the Frost a 2-1 lead at 2:59 of the second. Pannek took a pass from Kendall Coyne Schofield at the Ottawa blue line and beat Philips on a wrist shot from the slot.

The Frost went on another power play late in the period and cashed in when Grace Zumwinkle scored on a slap shot from the left-wing circle at 17:14.

Early in the third period, the Frost appeared to be on their way to a decisive victory, but the Charge had other ideas. Tereza Vanisova got behind Frost defender Claire Thompson and tucked the puck past Rooney to make it a 3-2 game.

Seconds later, Rooney was forced to make an outstanding leg save against Eagan native Natalie Snodgrass to keep the Frost in front.

Thompson gave the Frost some breathing room at 15:06 when she scored her first goal off a feed from Taylor Heise. Zumwinkle added an empty-net goal at 18:19.

Pannek is one of the Frost’s leaders and a solid player both ends of the ice. But she scored only four goals last season, so an increase in offensive production is something she is looking for this season.

“It’s easy to look at the numbers and goals and stuff,” Pannek said, “but I can’t focus too much on the end result of it. Just try to put myself in the positions.

“Putting the puck on net is something I’m trying to be better at. I tend to look for a pass first.”

Frost defender Sophie Jacques sustained what appeared to be a left arm injury midway through the third period on an illegal check by Ottawa’s Mannon McMahon. Jacques was helped off the ice after being attended to by the medical staff and did not return to the game.

Klee said Jacques was taken to an area hospital but did not have any other details immediately after the game.